
Book . ^15^5 



Cr 



'tmnt 



LIFE AND MINISTRY 

OP 

WILLIAM BBAMWELL, 

LATELY AN ITINERANT METHODIST PREACHER; 
WITH 

EXTRACTS FROM HIS INTERESTING AND EXTENSIVE 
CORRESPONDENCE. 

BY JAMES SIGSTON. 

/ 

REVISED BY THOMAS (^SUMMERS, D.P. 



Nasltftfl*, torn.: 
PUBLISHED BY E. STEYENSON & F. A. OWEN, AGENTS, 

FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. 

1856. 






la Bxoiianga 
Drew Theolog. S»m. 
JolSW 



PRINTED BY A. A. STITT, 
SOUTHERN METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE, NASHVILLE, TENN. 






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PAGE 

i-* .INTRODUCTION BT THE EDITOR V 

PREFACE Vii 

ADVERTISEMENT Xi 

CHAPTER I. — Mr. Bram well's birth, parentage, and education — 
His father's excellent instructions— Anecdote— The moral quali- 
ties of his youth — Early indisposition — His antipathy to settling 
in Liverpool — He is bound apprentice to a currier 13 

CHAPTER II.— Mr. Bram well's convictions — His alarming distress 
of mind — His acts of austerity and mortification — The anguish of 
his spirit injures his health — He receives the sacrament for the 
first time — In that ordinance he obtains a sense of God's pardon- 
ing love — His great zeal for the honor of God — He associates with 
the Church singers, and loses much of the consolation which he 
had felt — He becomes acquainted with a man of piety — After 
many conflicts, he goes to hear the Methodists, and joins the 
society 25 

CHAPTER III.— The grief of Mr. Bramwell's parents when they 
heard that he had become a Methodist — His interview with the 
Bev. John Wesley — Perplexity of mind respecting his call to the 
ministry — He becomes the leader of a class and a local preacher — 
Fruits of his labors — Some account of the manner in which he 
received the blessing of sanctification — An extract on the same 
subject from the experience of the Rev. John Fletcher 36 

CHAPTER IV.— Mr. Bramwell is called to supply the place of an 
itinerant preacher in Liverpool — He is recalled at the earnest 
request of his Preston friends — He commences business on his 
own account — Is again solicited by Dr. Coke to become an itiner- 
ant preacher — After some consideration, he embraces the offer, 
and begins to travel in the Kent circuit — His manner of life, and 
ardent desire for the conversion of sinners — He is again brought 
into doubt respecting his call to the ministry — Preaches at the 
place where seven men were executed — A remarkable dream. ..49 

CHAPTER V. — Mr. Bramwell's marriage — Some misunderstanding 
with Mr. Wesley — By an extraordinary chain of circumstances, 
he i3 directed to labor in the Blackburn circuit — His continued 
diligence — The mode of educating his children — His appointment 
to the Colne circuit 57 



(iii) 



IV CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI. — Mr. Bramwell's removal to the Dewsbury circuit — 
State of religion in that town and neighborhood — He gives him- 
self to prayer — The work of God begins to prosper — Ann Cutler 
is rendered useful in the revival — Great numbers converted — A 
remarkable dream — Causes of his great popularity — Mr. Wesley'a 
rules for a helper 69 

CHAPTER VII.— Mr. Bramwell's labors and success in the Birstal 
circuit — A great revival — Answers to prayer — Reflections on this 
revival 78 

CHAPTER VIIL— Mr. Bramwell is stationed in the Sheffield circuit 
— A great revival in that town — His diligence in the work of the 
ministry — His acquirements, and the manner in which they were 
applied — Reflections on the improvement of time — Anecdotes — 
Letters : 106 

CHAPTER IX.— Mr. Bramwell's removal to the Nottingham circuit 
— Unsettled state of the society in that place — Great exertions to 
procure a place of worship — Remarkable answers to prayer — Let- 
ters — Anecdotes — His conduct as a superintendent 149 

CHAPTER X. — Mr. Bramwell is appointed to travel in Leeds — His 
great popularity and usefulness — His qualifications for the min- 
istry — Letters — Some severe trials — Begins to travel in the Weth- 
erby circuit, and afterwards in Hull — Anecdotes — Letters 177 

CHAPTER XL — Mr. Bramwell's travels and success in the Sunder- 
land circuit — His Christian moderation — Anecdotes — Letters — 
His appointment to the Liverpool circuit — Letters 206 

CHAPTER XII. — Mr. Bramwell's appointment a second time to 
Sheffield — His conduct and ministerial success — Remarkable an- 
ecdote — Letters — His second appointment to Birstal — His useful- 
ness in that circuit — Letters 247 

CHAPTER XIIL— Mr. Bramwell's labors in London— His indispo- 
sition — Letters — His removal to Newcastle — Letters 274 

CHAPTER XIV.— Mr. Bramwell's appointment to Salford— His 
zealous labors — Declining health — Letters 297 

CHAPTER XV. — Mr. Bramwell's arrival at Leeds — His attendance 
on the business of conference — His conversation, preaching, and 
the. circumstances of his death — His funeral 317 

CHAPTER XVI. — A remarkable dream in reference to Mr. Bram- 
well — Mr. Ward's brief character of him 334 



Intmtotwtt bg t|i dMtor, 



The Memoir of William Bramwell takes rank with 
our most popular and most useful biographies. This 
is not because of any artistic skill in the authorship of 
the work, for in this respect it is inferior to many works 
of this class ; but it is because of the beauty of holiness 
which in a remarkable degree shines forth in the cha- 
racter of that most excellent minister of Jesiis Christ. 
His purity of intention, his laborious zeal, his seraphic 
devotion, justify us in presenting him as a model, espe- 
cially to those who have been, like him, "separated to 
the gospel of God." 

Mr. Bramwell was eminently a man of prayer and 
faith. Some of the well-authenticated instances of his 
successful addresses to the throne of grace border on 
the miraculous ; though, of course, no miracle, in the 
propter sense, was wrought or expected to be wrought 
in answer to his "effectual fervent prayer." We do 
not pray for the restoration of sight to one who has lost 
the organ of vision, or the recovery of a limb by one 
who has been deprived of it by amputation, or for the 
resurrection of one who is dead — these works, and works 
of this class, involve miraculous power, and the age of 
1* (v) 



VI INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR. 

miracles is passed. But all Christians pray for season- 
able weather, for prosperous issues of lawful undertak- 
ings, and for the recovery of health in times of sickness 
— these, and similar favors, involve indeed supernatural 
interference, but no miracle. Some seem to think it is 
never possible to identify these interpositions of Divine 
Providence as answers to prayer : Mr. Bramwell thought 
differently, and prayed according to his faith in this 
respect. Who shall say that his childlike confidence 
in his Heavenly Father was not correspondently re- 
warded ? 

This Memoir contains an account of several remark- 
able dreams by Mr. Bramwell and others, concerning 
which neither the author nor editor ventures an opinion. 
It is unscriptural and unphilosophical to look upon all 
dreams as the vagaries of the mind in sleep, or to refer 
to any as the rule of our conduct. Supernatural dreams 
belonged preeminently to the times of special inspira- 
tion ; but we are not authorized to say that in the pre- 
sent age God never " speaketh in a dream to open the 
ears of men and to seal their instruction." We may 
have never received Divine guidance and admonition 
through this medium ; but it would be preposterous for 
us therefore to infer that no one else has been — that no 
one can be — the subject of such visitations. • 

We particularly commend to the notice and imitation 
of the reader the personal sanctity, the zeal for God, 
and the " yearning pity for mankind," which so strongly 
characterized the subject of this Memoir. 

Nashville, Tenn., March 15, 1856. 



ttititt 



I WAS intimately acquainted with the late holy 
and highly respected William Bramwell. In 
the course of the following narrative, it will 
appear that I had long been honored with his 
friendship and correspondence, and that his 
death occurred only a few minutes after he had 
left my house. From these and other circum- 
stances, I was induced, at the earnest solicitations 
of his friends, to undertake the preparation of 
this Memoir of his Life and Ministry. It is a 
source of lamentation to me, that I have not been 
able to present an account of my much-esteemed 
friend, more worthy of his excellences and of the 
notice of the religious public. 

Many causes have conspired to hinder the 
completion of a good memoir. "When Mr. Bram- 
well was in the Hull Circuit, he destroyed his 
valuable diary, the contents of which would un- 
questionably have furnished a rich entertainment 

(Yii) 



Vlll PREFACE. 

to every Christian. With the motives which 
induced him to commit those excellent manu- 
scripts to the flames, I am not perfectly ac- 
quainted. I have been informed by a friend, 
who conversed with him on the subject, that he 
said many of the particulars were of so extraor- 
dinary a nature, that he thought that they would 
almost be considered as enthusiastic and visionary ; 
but I have reason to believe that he saw the 
impropriety of this act, several years before his 
death. Some of Mr. Bramwell's friends had pro- 
mised to contribute a few papers in illustration of 
this account of his life ; but in several instances 
these promises have been unfulfilled, either 
through forgetful n ess, negligence, or the para- 
mount demands of other engagements. A great 
disparity of style will be perceptible in different 
parts of the memoir; as it will be seen that the 
same excellences are treated by different writers, 
chiefly in their own words. But by candid 
readers this diversity will not be regarded as any 
disparagement to the work ; they will rather be 
pleased to find, in the mouth of two or three wit- 
nesses, every word established respecting the 
virtues of Mr. Bramwell. All the accounts, how- 
ever varied in style, unite in correctly represent- 
ing his love to God, "his yearning pity for man- 



PREFACE. IX 

kind/' and his intense desire for their salvation. 
These powerful motives were in constant exercise 
on his mind, and incited him to the performance 
of labors innumerable. It is probable that there 
have been but few Christian ministers, since the 
days of the apostles, who have made greater ex- 
ertions to bring to the fold of Christ the fallen 
sons of men, and whose labors have been more 
signally owned by the great Head of the Church. 
But though the destruction of his journal, the 
unfulfilled promises of several friends, and the 
difference of style, have rendered this memoir an 
irregular kind of composition; yet I trust that 
every humble follower of our Lord Jesus Christ 
will be edified and instructed by the living traits 
of holiness which it exhibits. Some of the anec- 
dotes may, in the view of cool and calculating 
characters, seem to savor too much of enthusiasm. 
But this cannot be charged on Mr. Bramwell as 
a fault ; for he has left behind him no written 
account of any of these transactions, and was 
seldom known to speak of them, even in the 
presence of those who had the happiness of enjoy- 
ing his most intimate friendship. Yet it is not 
attempted to be denied, that his was the noble 
enthusiasm of exerting all his powers to give 
effect to the gracious purposes of God among the 



X PREFACE. 

perishing sons of Adam. Without a goodly por- 
tion of this noble feeling, no man ever yet excelled 
in any profession : why, then, should it be the 
subject of blame, only in the profession of reli- 
gion ? Can any man be too zealous in the pro- 
motion of the vital interests of godliness ? This 
is impossible. 

On such a theme 't is impious to be calm : 
Passion is reason ; transport, temper here. 

Young. 

The publication of this work has been retarded 
on various accounts, and the Christian world 
have consequently felt greatly disappointed. My 
own avocations are so numerous that I could not 
have undertaken to prepare this memoir for the 
press without availing myself of the assistance of 
some literary friend; and I here return my sin- 
cere thanks to Mr. Nichols, whose talents are 
well known to the world, for his kind assistance 
and advice in various parts of the work. It was 
a subject of regret to me, that when I contem- 
plated the early completion of the memoir by the 
continuance of his aid, I was suddenly deprived 
of it, at the close of last December, by his re- 
moval to London. 

And now, if this humble attempt to do justice 
to the character and labors of this eminently 



ADVERTISEMENT. XI 

faithful minister of the gospel, shall excite an 
earnest wish in his junior brethren to imitate his 
conduct, or an increased desire in the people for 
the attainment of that holiness of heart and life 
which he inculcated and exemplified : in short, 
if this volume be made a blessing to any who 
peruse it, my object in the publication will be 
gained, and to God alone shall all the glory be 
ascribed. 

James Sigston. 

Queen-Square Academy, Leeds, 
April 21, 1820. 



ADVERTISEMENT 



The success which has attended the sale of 
the first edition of this memoir, and the very 
favorable reception given to it by the religious 
public, are circumstances which have afforded me 
real pleasure, and not the less on account of the 
emolument which will thus accrue to Mrs. Bram- 
well. In the absence of all pretensions to literary 
fame from the execution of the work, my labor 
having been little more than that of compilation, 



Xll ADVERTISEMENT. 

arrangement, and correction, it is yet most grati- 
fying to find that the perusal of it has been 
attended with much spiritual benefit, both to 
saints and sinners. This is the result for which 
I was most anxious, and I thank God that it has 
been granted to me. 

The supercilious manner in which certain por- 
tions of the memoir have been viewed by a few 
profane persons, has been no serious abatement 
to this grateful feeling. For, as the preceding 
preface will show, I had calculated that so long 
as "the carnal mind is enmity against God," it 
cannot receive "the things of the Spirit/' how- 
ever clearly revealed, or accurately expressed. 
To such persons these subjects "are foolishness; 
they cannot know them, because they are spirit- 
ually discerned." 

J. S. 

Leeds, October 4, 1820. 



MEMOIR 

OF 

ME. WILLIAM BRAMWELL. 

CHAPTER I. 

Mr. Bramwell's birth, parentage, and education — His father's excel- 
lent instructions — Anecdote — The moral qualities of his youth — 
Early indisposition — His antipathy to settling- in Liverpool — He 
is bound apprentice to a currier. 

Mr. William Bramwell, the subject of this 
memoir, was born in. February, in the year 1759, 
at Elswick, a village nearly ten miles from Pres- 
ton, in the parish of Saint Michael, Lancashire. 
His parents, George and Elizabeth Bramwell, 
had a family of eleven children, of whom William 
was the tenth. Mrs. Hargreave, of Westgate 
Hill, near Birstal, and Mrs. Jones, of Liverpool, 
are now the only surviving members of this once 
large and flourishing family. The others have 
accomplished their warfare, and are gathered to 
their fathers. When we contemplate the disap- 
pearance of whole families, with many of whom 
the best affections of our hearts have long been 
associated, may we not join in the exclamation of 
2 (13) 



14 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

the man of God, — "Your fathers, — where are 
they? And the prophets, — do they live for 
ever ?" 

Mr. Bramwell's parents were warmly attached 
to the Established Church ; and according to the 
light which they possessed, educated their child- 
ren in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 
But their religious views were exceedingly cir- 
cumscribed. Nor were they singular in this 
respect; for spiritual darkness at that period 
nearly enveloped this Christian land. The Gros- 
pel light introduced at the time of the Reforma- 
tion had dwindled away into obscurity, and 
"blind leaders of the blind" were too frequently 
the only guides of the people. Mr. Bramwell's 
native village, and several other towns in Lanca- 
shire, were among the most benighted parts of 
England. The Roman Catholics then composed, 
and still form, a considerable part of the popula- 
tion of that county. The members of other deno- 
minations, therefore, assumed not a little conse- 
quence from being styled Protestants. Without 
possessing greater spiritual light than their popish 
neighbors, they considered this name as the test 
of religion, and the passport to sanctity. 

A chapel of ease, called Cop Chapel, was the 
place of worship frequented by Mr. Bramwell's 
parents. Though it was situated about a mile 
from their house, yet, whatever might be the 
state of the weather, they were scrupulously 
exact in attending the service of the Church, 
with all their family, every Sabbath. It was 
their earnest wish that their children should be 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 15 

observant of every moral obligation, and atten- 
tive to all the duties of life. Beyond this, their 
ideas of pure religion had never extended. In 
love with the form of godliness, they were des- 
titute of its power. They did not perceive the 
necessity of constant Divine influence and of 
spiritual regeneration. A rigid adherence to 
the ceremonies of the Church was the highest 
standard of their piety ; and none of their child- 
ren could be guilty of a more grievous offence 
against them than that of absenting themselves 
from the Church service, or resorting to the 
meeting-house of some other denomination. Mr. 
Bramwell's father was particularly reserved to- 
ward his children. On this account they were 
prevented from making him their confidant, and 
could approach him with no other feeling than 
that of awe or dread. 

It was, however, a great benefit to Mr. Bram- 
well, that he was blessed with parents whose 
knowledge and practice so nearly coincided. 
We are at this day in the habit of looking back 
with pity and compassion on the ignorance of 
those elder times, and of expressing our thank- 
fulness for the superior illumination of these our 
glorious days. And in this we act aright, if the 
retrospect incline us to improve our privileges. 
But with our uncommon advantages, would there 
be any misapplication of Scripture, if this passage 
were repeated to us, — "Woe unto thee, Cho- 
razin ! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida ! for if the 
mighty works which were done in you had been 



16 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have re- 
pented long ago in sackcloth and ashes !" 

From his parents, whose religions attainments, 
it is seen, were very limited, Mr. Brain well im- 
bibed the most profound veneration for the Lord's 
day. And, indeed, what man ever attained to 
any eminence in piety, who was not very scrupu- 
lous in his regard to the Sabbath ? As an in- 
stance of his extreme tenderness of conscience in 
this respect, it may be stated that, during his 
apprenticeship, he was much attached to botani- 
cal pursuits, and kept a number of curious plants 
and shrubs in the window of his lodging-room. 
Although some of them, from their delicacy, 
required particular care and attention, yet if he 
had neglected to water them on the Saturday 
evening, and found them drooping in consequence 
on the Sunday, he would not, by watering them, 
commit an act which he considered a breach of 
the observance of that sacred day, but postponed 
it until the following morning. 

Proper attention to the Sabbath must always 
lead in its train a corresponding love for the 
word of God, and regular habits of perusing it. 
In Mr. Gr. Bramwell's family, this was a part of 
the required duties of that holy day. All the 
children had their portion of reading assigned 
them, and were taught to regard the sacred 
volume as a revelation of mercy from Heaven. 

How salutary has an early knowledge of the 
Scriptures often proved ! The holy principles 
which they inculcate frequently remain latent 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 17 

in the youthful breast until they are elicited by 
providential circumstances. Then it is that their 
peculiar importance and gracious effects are very 
perceptible. Under the influence of the Holy 
Spirit, the word of God has been silently "pre- 
paring the way of the Lord;" and when once the 
heart has been inflamed by a spark of grace, the 
subjects of this Divine change have themselves 
been amazed at the readiness with which they 
could bring out of the treasure-house of their 
memory, things new and old. 

We may see the effect which this early acquaint- 
ance with Scripture truth produced in the mind 
of the Rev. John Newton, the friend of the poet 
Cowper. The portions of God's word which he 
had read when but four years of age, were brought 
to his recollection above twenty years afterward, 
at the time of his short captivity on the coast of 
Africa. He wondered at the great harvest which 
had been almost unconsciously husbanded; and 
when he was not possessed of a Bible to which he 
could have recourse, and which, with the perverse 
feelings which he then evinced, he would have 
been unwilling to peruse, his unassisted memory 
furnished him with supplies in abundance. At 
forty years of age, by a wonderful train of cir- 
cumstances, he became a minister in the Estab- 
lished Church, and during a space of nearly half 
a century, edified the age in which he lived, and 
left materials in his writings for instructing future 
generations. To a similar early initiation in 
scriptural knowledge, we may attribute the same 
effects in Mr. William Bramwell. It was owing 
2* 



18 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

to this cause that he became a good textuary, 
and with the utmost ease acquired the habit of 
referring to the Scriptures for the proof and illus- 
tration of the doctrines Avhich he preached. 

By his parents Mr. Bramwell was also in- 
structed in a strict regard to truth t And this 
was not inculcated by precept or exhortation 
alone, but happily recommended by practice. 
His father, like the great Epaminondas, never 
told a lie, even in jest. Of whatever importance 
the affair might .be in which George Bramwell' s 
name was mentioned, if it were known that he 
had sanctioned any thing by his affirmation, his 
neighbors considered his word to be decisive, and 
required no further proof of the authenticity of 
the matter. For the same humble imitation of 
the God of truth, his son William was equally 
distinguished. Even in his unconverted state, 
this was a virtue which he constantly practiced, 
and from the observation of which he never re- 
ceded. On no occasion could he be enticed or 
intimidated to betray its interests or disobey its 
dictates; and, in certain instances, in which a 
person of less firmness would have wavered, fear- 
less of consequences, he asserted the truth with 
the boldness of a lion. Unimpeachable veracity 
is so rare among mankind, that the wicked them- 
selves display a kind of supernatural respect for 
the manly character in which it is found. It is, 
indeed, a legible trace of the Deity, which com- 
mands universal admiration, and on which the 
most sublime virtues have a firm foundation. 
All these instructions forwarded the operations 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 19 

of Divine grace in his mind. At the early age 
of seven years, while he was yet under the roof 
of his father, he was favored with the awakening 
visits of God's Holy Spirit : he had powerful 
convictions of sin, and deeply felt the necessity 
of a change in his heart and affections. These 
religious feelings never left him, till he experi- 
enced the great blessing of a sound conversion. 

In his childhood Mr. Bramwell was much 
afflicted with the ague and other disorders. He 
had the small-pox when he was six years of age ; 
and such was the excruciating bodily anguish 
which he felt when this disease had reached its 
crisis, that, in a paroxysm of pain, he ran out of 
the house, threw himself into a pond, and was 
completely immersed in the water. . But He 
who "guards the sacred heirs of heaven," had 
his own gracious purposes to answer by him, and 
suffered no further evil consequences to ensue 
from this involuntary act, than some large boils 
or blisters which arose on his skin, by which 
Nature endeavored to cast off her surfeit. These 
did not cause great irritation or pain, but were 
very troublesome ; and while they remained he 
was ordered to be confined to his room. Much 
of his time was then spent in singing psalms in 
bed. At length all the bad effects of his indis- 
position left him ; and he gradually recovered 
his former health and vigor. 

Singing was, indeed, always a delightful exer- 
cise to Mr. Bramwell. Nature had given him a 
fine, mellow voice, well adapted to sacred music ; 
until his subsequent excessive labor and exer- 



20 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

tions in the ministerial offiee had robbed it of its 
sweetness. 

From his infancy he had been well instructed 
in church psalmody, his vocal powers having 
early rendered him a favorite among the singers 
at Cop Chapel. When a child he had a place 
assigned him in the singers' pew, where a stool 
was set to elevate him, that his voice might be 
heard by the whole congregation. 

He received such an education as the means of 
instruction in the village of Elswick could afford. 
Knowledge had not in those days given itself that 
elastic bound which it has since done. The qua- 
lifications which were then considered necessary 
for young persons in the middle ranks of society 
were not numerous, and few persons could enjoy 
even the whole of these advantages. In the 
course of this narrative, it will be perceived how 
sedulously he applied himself to remedy the de- 
fects which he had experienced in his education, 
and what great success crowned his endeavors. 

The early part of his youth was spent at home. 
His father, who was a farmer, and possessed of a 
small landed property, employed him for some 
time in agricultural affairs ; but when he had 
nearly attained the age of sixteen years, he was 
sent to Liverpool to reside with his eldest brother, 
John, who was a merchant of great respectability 
in that town. It was intended that William 
should have been brought up to that profession ; 
but after a short time his disinclination to that 
calling was so manifest, that his parents desired 
him to return home; and he was not backward 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 21 

in adopting their advice. His chief ground of 
dissatisfaction was, that the situation militated 
against his religious pursuits. His reason in- 
formed him, that the seductive dissipation of a 
gay seaport, and the opportunities which he 
would there have of indulging himself in its 
pleasures, were circumstances ill suited to promote 
the higher objects that he had in view. As he 
was at this period very ignorant of vital godliness, 
he did not perceive how great a disparagement it 
was to the grace of God, to distrust its sufficiency 
in preserving him faithful and incorrupt in an 
honest calling, however numerous and great his 
temptations might prove. Yet, to the close of his 
life, he was accustomed to speak of his residence 
in Liverpool with horror and disgust ; and always 
thanked God that he had been providentially 
called to escape from the snares and pollutions 
with which it abounded. He frequently de- 
clared it to be his settled belief, that had he 
remained much longer in Liverpool, he would 
have been ruined for ever. It is remarkable that 
only a few weeks before he died, when he was 
recalling this circumstance to memory in com- 
pany with Mrs. Bramwell, he expressed his gra- 
titude to God for delivering him from these 
temptations. 

Soon after he had left Liverpool, he engaged 
himself, with the approbation of his parents, as 
an apprentice to Mr. Brandreth, a currier in 
Preston. He had not been long in this new 
occupation, before he had a severe attack of dis- 
ease in his chest and stomach. The complaint 



22 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

•with which, he was afflicted assumed for some 
time the appearance of a deep consumption ; but 
by the blessing of God on the means which were 
used to remove this indisposition, he gradually 
recovered. 

His situation was now very comfortable. Mr. 
Brandreth, though not himself a religious man, 
placed the greatest confidence in his apprentice, 
and highly valued him for his unimpeachable 
honesty and integrity — qualities of far greater 
importance in trade than the narrow-minded 
slaves of sin are willing to allow. An instance 
of the sterling excellence of these virtues oc- 
curred soon after he went into his master's 
employ. The person who acted as salesman, 
and retailed goods to the customers, was in the 
habit of giving a more glowing description of his 
articles than plain truth would warrant. When 
those persons hesitated to receive his testimony, 
he generally appealed for a corroboration to any 
of the apprentices that were present. The first 
time William Bramwell was applied to in this 
manner he instantly replied, " No, sir. The 
quality of that leather is not so good as you have 
represented it I" As several persons in the trade 
were present when he gave this answer, they con- 
ceived the highest opinion of his veracity and 
uprightness. This anecdote was soon circulated; 
in consequence of which, his virtue was honored, 
and his character became established with all 
those by whom he was known. His master 
might have been displeased by this marked pre- 
ference shown to one who was yet quite a strip- 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 23 

ling; but he soon experienced the advantage of 
this mode of transacting business, by the great 
increase of customers that it brought ; " for the 
Lord blessed his master's house for William's 
sake, and the blessing of the Lord was upon all 
that he had in the house/' He had also dis- 
covered several malpractices among his fellow- 
apprentices, and, without hesitation or fear of the 
evil which the delinquents might practice against 
him, acquainted his master with the knavery. 
This procured Mr. Brandreth's respect and good- 
will, and he was fully convinced that such an 
apprentice was invaluable ; and that every act of 
his would be performed with a particular view to 
his master's interest. 

Although Mr. Bramwell was thus esteemed by 
his master, it was rather as a faithful and valu- 
able servant, in whom he could repose entire 
confidence, than as a person cultivating with all 
his heart the fear of God. Mr. Brandreth, so far 
from being religious, was entirely ignorant of the 
nature and power of genuine Christianity. The 
punctilious fear of offending the Supreme Being, 
the zealous earnestness in prayer, and preparation 
for eternity, which he beheld in Mr. Bramwell, 
he ascribed to the enthusiasm of an overheated 
mind. It was this ignorance which induced him 
to say, " William Bramwell is mad in these 
things; yet, as a servant, he is inestimable." To 
this also must be imputed the degree of persecu- 
tion which Mr. B. suffered for religion. The 
ardor and zeal of his mind in perusing the oracles 
of Divine truth, could not escape the observation 



24 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

of any one who knew him. He prosecuted this 
study to a very late hour in the night, when he 
had retired to his chamber. To render these pur- 
suits impossible, he was allowed no candles in the 
evening. When he was deprived of this resource, 
he still persevered in the attainment of Divine 
knowledge; and when the family was retired to 
rest, laying himself down on the hearth, as near 
the fireplace as possible, by the remnant of the fire 
he read as long as the cinders afforded any light. 
Mr. Bramwell has been often heard to relate this 
circumstance as one of the greatest privations he 
ever endured, and to urge others to make -a right 
use of those privileges which were in this instance 
denied to him. 

Yet opposition in all its forms was rendered 
very helpful to his improvement; as it caused 
him to be more solicitous in devoting every 
moment of leisure during the day to the perusal 
of the sacred records and other books of instruc- 
tion. He seized with avidity every opportunity 
of increasing his knowledge of Divine things ; and 
this earnestness soon turned to good account. 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 25 



CHAPTER II. 

Mr. 'Bramwell's convictions — His alarming distress of mind — His 
acts of austerity and mortification — The anguish of his spirit 
injures his health — He receives the sacrament for the first time 
— In that ordinance he obtains a sense of God's pardoning love 
— His great zeal for the honor of God — He associates with the 
Church 6ingers, and loses much of the consolation which he had 
felt — He becomes acquainted with a man of piety — After many 
conflicts, he goes to hear the Methodists, and joins the society. 

The salutary effects of the instruction and 
example of Mr. Bramwell's parents have been 
already noticed. During his apprenticeship, his 
previous convictions were increased in an extra- 
ordinary manner. One Sunday evening, while 
on his return from Elswick, where he had been 
to visit his parents, their great kindness to him 
was suddenly and forcibly brought to his recol- 
lection. At the same time he began to reflect 
with the greatest shame and confusion on his 
numerous acts of disobedience and ingratitude to 
them. Though he had been a most dutiful child, 
yet he was so overpowered at the view of the 
offences which his memory recalled, that he fell 
down on his knees in the lane, and there cried 
aloud to God to have mercy upon him, and to 
pardon his transgressions. As soon as he arrived 
at his master's house, in Preston, he retired to 
his room, and rolled himself on the floor in an 
agony, like a person distracted. These troubles 
of mind continued for some time, both night and 
3 



26 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

day, without intermission. He was deeply hum- 
bled at the sight of his conduct, and could not be 
satisfied till he took the earliest opportunity of 
returning to Elswick, to confess his offences in 
the presence of his father, and crave his forgive- 
ness. His father, who considered him one of the 
most dutiful of sons, was surprised and astonished 
at the power of these convictions, which he could 
not comprehend. "Dear!" said he, " what hast 
thou done to lay these heavy charges against thy- 
self? Thou hast not murdered anybody." At 
the same time he told William, that so far from 
being undutiful and ungrateful, he had done no- 
thing which required a parent's forgiveness. 
With this consoling assurance he returned to 
Preston greatly relieved in spirit, and formed a 
strong resolution to change the course of his life. 
His repentance toward God continued deep and 
sincere ; and he sought every occasion of mani- 
festing it, by frequent acts of fasting, mortifica- 
tion, and prayer. He also attended the service 
of the parish church, with the most scrupulous 
regularity ; and showed his genuine zeal for the 
honor of God, and his hatred to sin, by reproving 
the latter at all seasons, and in every company. 

But while he was the subject of these Divine 
operations, he stood alone, and had no pious 
friend to whom he could disclose his feelings, or 
with whom he could take sweet counsel respect- 
ing his soul. Of all the professors of Christianity 
in the neighborhood, the Papists were the strict- 
est; and, to a youthful mind, they appeared to 
evince some due regard to the external forms of 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 27 

religion. Though he had been sufficiently well 
instructed to dislike the principles and general 
practices of that Church, yet the austerities, pen- 
ances, and privations to which its members occa- 
sionally subjected themselves, to him seemed 
highly reasonable; and at that period he had no 
doubt of such sacrifices being acceptable to God. 
Laboring under the greatest concern for the sal- 
vation of his soul, he adopted several modes of 
mortifying the flesh, of the most ascetic and 
severe description, different in some external 
respects from those of the Roman Catholics, but 
the same in principle. To remind him of his 
sins, on account of which he thought he was not 
sufficiently humbled, he frequently cut off the 
skin and flesh from the ends of his fingers, and 
would not for some time suffer the self-inflicted 
wounds to heal. About midnight he often arose 
and stole down into the kitchen, while the mem- 
bers of his master's family were asleep; then 
sprinkling a corner of the floor with some of the 
roughest sand he could find, and uncovering his 
knees, he knelt down, and in that painful posture 
spent many hours of the night in fervent suppli- 
cations for the pardon of his sins. When the 
apprentices were allowed a day of relaxation, 
instead of employing it as they did, in carnal 
pleasures and worldly amusements, he retired to 
an obscure part of a wood near Preston, and, 
having climbed up a favorite tree, he usually 
remained there till evening, confessing his sins 
aloud in the presence of his Heavenly Father, and 
earnestly imploring forgiveness. 



28 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

While in this disconsolate state of mind, he 
sometimes wandered from Preston, after the 
labors of the day; and, walking as far as his 
father's house in Elswick, a distance of ten miles, 
he has slowly returned the same night, without 
partaking of the least refreshment, or informing 
any of his father's family that an individual so 
wretched as himself was near their abode. After 
this solitary walk of twenty miles, he was ready 
to commence his labor, the next morning, with 
the earliest of his master's workmen. 

His constitution was naturally robust. But 
had his flesh been brass and his sinews iron, the 
austerities in which he voluntarily persisted for 
many months would have ruined his health. 
Strong as he was, he at last found his frame 
unequal to the inward conflict which was itself 
sufficiently severe without the infliction of peni- 
tential bodily torture. His friends perceived that 
his countenance became pale, and that his strength 
was quickly declining. Being concerned for his 
welfare, they applied for advice to two physi- 
cians, who, unable satisfactorily to account for 
the emaciated state of his body, called the unde- 
fined and hidden cause of his unhappiness, "a 
nervous complaint." 

But God, who is rich in mercy, shortly after- 
ward effected for him a great deliverance. He 
had prepared himself with much prayer and self- 
examination for worthily partaking of the sacra- 
ment of the Lord's Supper; and while in the act 
of receiving the sacred elements from the hand 
of the Bev. Mr. Wilson, a pious clergyman at 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 29 

Preston, under whose ministry he had greatly 
profited, he obtaiued a clear sense of pardon. 
All his bodily ailments soon forsook him, and his 
" spirit rejoiced in God his Saviour/' Darkness 
and gloom, guilt and condemnation, were at once 
removed in a manner incomprehensible to him, 
.and utterly beyond all that he had ever been 
taught to expect or desire. The height of his 
joy was equalled only by the previous depth of 
his sorrow. He testified in every way his un- 
feigned gratitude to Him who had made him glad 
with the light of his countenance. Influenced 
by this principle, he tried even to purchase the 
obedience of others to the commands of his loving 
Saviour. To this purpose he applied all the 
money allowed him by his parents. If any young 
people swore in his presence, he affectionately 
reproved them, and, if they still persisted, he 
endeavored to buy them off from such profane 
practices, by giving them a sum of money. By 
this method he induced many to promise that 
they would no longer be guilty of their customary 
language of oaths and imprecations. In the same 
spirit, he often followed depraved individuals 
into public-houses, and dissuaded them from a 
continuance in their ungodly course of life. He 
suffered neither rich nor poor, young nor old, to 
escape reproof, when he perceived any thing in 
their spirit or conduct that was culpable. In 
behalf of his Divine Master, who had mercifully 
"called him out of darkness into marvellous 
light/' he had always a word in season. 



30 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

Yet at this critical period, his Christianity was 
of a solitary kind. He walked alone in the ways 
of God. None of his friends appeared to be in 
earnest for the same blessings as those which he 
enjoyed. To secure, therefore, his continuance 
in the paths of righteousness, and to strengthen 
his newly formed gracious habits and holy reso-. 
lutions, he knew of no method equal to that of 
associating himself with the church singers. He 
thought that no body of men upon earth ap- 
proached in their spirit and employment so nearly 
to the occupation of "the spirits of just men made 
perfect," as these cheerful choristers. To join 
with them in celebrating the high praises of God, 
appeared to him, artless as he then was, an object 
fraught with good, and most gratifying to his 
pious feelings. He entered heartily into this 
plan, and was constant in his attendance in the 
singers' pew. But there were other places more 
frequented by these rustic musicians than the 
church. To perfect themselves in their various 
parte, they considered it needful for the whole 
fraternity regularly to assemble at a rendezvous j 
and that most commonly was a large room in an 
alehouse. By gradually imbibing the spirits and 
habits of his new associates, Mr. Bramwell almost 
imperceptibly lost the comfort and happiness 
which he had so recently experienced. These 
persons were unfit companions for one, like him, 
exercised unto godliness ; levity and mirth being 
their particular delight when they were not im- 
mediately engaged in the service of the Church. 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 31 

His religious feelings became dull and languid; 
and in this uncomfortable frame of mind he 
passed nearly three months. 

About this period, one of his friends proposed 
to lend him the works of the Rev. John Wesley. 
He accepted the offer; but he soon afterward 
returned them unread, declaring that he durst 
on no account peruse them, as he was fearful of 
their corrupting effects, and of the tendency 
which they would have to destroy his religion. 

Mr. Roger Crane, who was then a member 
of the Methodist society in Preston, had heard 
that Mr. Bramwell was so much in earnest for 
the salvation of his soul as to be almost " beside 
himself/' In consequence of this, he took some 
pains to be introduced to him. He soon became 
acquainted with him, and gained his confidence; 
and this, after an interchange of many visits, was 
ripened into a strong and mutual attachment. 
Such an intimacy was peculiarly pleasing to Mr. 
Bramwell, and he perfectly acquiesced in all the 
religious views and statements of his more expe- 
rienced companion. Christian experience and 
religious enjoyment were not then novel subjects. 
He had felt them, and therefore knew their mean- 
ing and importance. At length Mr. Crane con- 
cluded that it was his duty to invite his friend to 
hear a Methodist preacher, and assured him that 
he would find the truths which he loved explained 
in a clearer and more scriptural manner, and with 
greater comfort to his own mind, than by his 
favorite clergyman. But though strongly and 
often solicited, he always declined the invitation; 



32 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

and, as a full explanation of his resolution and the 
motives which influenced him, he told Mr. Crane 
that his father had exacted a promise from him 
not to attend the preaching of the Methodists, 
and had warned all his family against any con- 
nection with such a despicable community. He 
considered them an infatuated and deceiving body 
of people, like wolves in sheep's clothing. 

This continued refusal caused a great shyness 
between the two young men. Their interviews 
became less frequent : friendship had no longer 
its former attraction, and in the end their inti- 
macy entirely ceased. They kept apart from 
each other nearly six months, and, in the interim, 
Mr. Bramwell became more lax in his principles, 
and less scrupulous in his conduct. The alluring 
habits and maxims of the world, which he had 
hitherto firmly and successfully resisted, seemed 
almost insensibly to steal upon him. He drooped 
in spirit, and lost all sensible comfort. He was 
in this unhappy frame when a conversation that 
took place between him and Robert Looker, one 
of his master's workmen, induced him to attend 
for the first time the preaching of the Methodists. 
Robert relates the circumstance in the following 
simple manner : 

"I have now been forty years acquainted with 
Mr. Bramwell. He and I wrought together in 
the same shop nearly six years. I never knew 
his equal for strict morality. His parents were 
rigidly attached to the Established Church. 
"When he received his first religious impressions, 
he became very zealous. I heard him reprove 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 33 

sin in all places, and the commission of it vexed 
his righteous soul from day to day. At that time 
he had neither heard a Methodist preacher nor 
attended any of their meetings. He was preju- 
diced against them, but yet not so much as his 
parents were. Their antipathy was deep and 
inveterate. 

"A very wicked old woman lived near my 
master's shop. She was a notorious swearer and 
blasphemer. Mr. Bramwell's principles would 
not allow her to utter oaths and curses in his 
hearing, without reproving her. One day, when 
she had been exercising herself in her usual way, 
he wrote a note and sent it to her. It contained 
some appropriate passages of Scripture, and in the 
conclusion it was intimated, that as all profane 
persons had their portion in the everlasting fire 
of hell, she was evidently one of them, and must 
expect the same dreadful doom unless she re- 
pented of her sins and abandoned her evil prac- 
tices. The old woman, knowing that Mr. Brain- 
well and I were intimate, came like a fury to our 
house, and with a dreadful oath called Mr. Bram- 
well, who was absent, a Methodist devil ! My 
wife, who was then a strict Koman Catholic,* 
asked the reason of her warmth. She replied, 
' He has sent me a note, in which he says that I 
am a wicked woman, and must burn in hell for 

* Mr. Braniwell was, some years afterwards, made 
an honored instrument in the conversion of Mrs. Looker 
and her husband. Both of them have long enjoyed the 
pleasures of religion, and " their conversation has been 
as it becometh the gospel of Christ." 



34 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

ever/ More chagrined at hearing him stigma- 
tized for being a Methodist, than if he had been 
censured for open impiety, my wife said, ' Jane, 
you shall not call him a Methodist, for I am sure 
he is not one of that sort !' When Mr. Brain- 
well called at our house in the evening, my wife 
began to relate the charge she had heard against 
him, by saying, ' William ! Jane M. has been 
cursing you, and calling you a Methodist; and I 
told her that no one should give you that scan- 
dalous name in my hearing; for I hate it more 
than any other/ 

" On hearing this, Mr. Bramwell turned to me, 
and said with a smile, 'Robert, did you ever hear 
the people called Methodists V I told him I had 
heard them sometimes in the fields near London, 
but knew very little about them, as I liked the 
Church. He said, 'I understand they have 
begun to preach in Preston : will you go to hear 
them?' I replied, 'I am quite willing/ He 
then said, < My Bible tells me, " They that will 
live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecu- 
tion;" and these people are much vilified and 
persecuted/ He told me he would make some 
inquiry about the time of preaching ; and on the 
appointed day we repaired together to the small 
house where these outcasts assembled. We found 
not more than a dozen persons present, and the 
sermon was on the subject of the bond woman 
and the free woman. I liked the drift of the dis- 
course pretty well ; yet at that time it did not 
take hold of my heart. But Mr. Bramwell was 
like Lydia, whose heart the Lord had opened to 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 35 

receive the word. When we went again we 
heard old Mr. Hopper, and having begun to meet 
in class, we were soon afterward admitted into 
society. Mr. Longley gave us our first tickets." 
About this time, too, his real frieud, Mr. 
Crane, was told by a person with whom he was 
intimate, that Mr. Bramwell was afraid he had 
offended Mr. Crane by not going with him to hear 
the Methodists, although he had been repeatedly 
invited. He had told the same person, that if 
Mr. Crane again desired him, he certainly would 
not refuse. Mr. Crane, therefore, once more de- 
signedly met him, and commenced a renewal of 
their former friendship, by requesting the plea- 
sure of his company to hear a Methodist preacher. 
He cheerfully assented to the proposal of his 
friend, and in the evening they went and heard 
Mr. Andrew Inglis. On their return, Mr. Crane 
asked him how he liked the sermon. " I" said 
he, his eyes beaming with joy, " this is the kind 
of preaching which I have long wanted to hear. 
These are the people with whom I am resolved to 
live and die !" 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 



CHAPTER III. 

The grief of Mr. Bram well's parents -when they heard that he had 
become a Methodist — His interview with the Rev. John Wesley — 
Perplexity of mind respecting his call to the ministry — He be- 
comes the leader of a class, and a local preacher — Fruits of his 
labors — Some account of the manner in which he received the 
blessing of sanctification — An extract on the same subject from 
the experience of the Rev. John Fletcher. 

After the expiration of Mr. Bramwell's ap- 
prenticeship, his parents removed from Elswick 
to Preston, for the sole purpose of enjoying with- 
out interruption the society and converse of their 
son, for whose religious character they entertained 
the highest esteem. But how greatly were they 
mortified when they understood that he had begun 
to associate with the Methodists ! They were so 
much exasperated, that they threatened to render 
him no pecuniary assistance toward enabling him 
to commence business. This, however, had nc 
effect upon him ; for he had been taught, that in 
order to be an approved disciple of Christ, it 
might in some cases be absolutely necessary to 
" forsake both father and mother." Yet being 
very solicitous to promote their spiritual welfare, 
he continually urged on them the necessity of a 
change of heart, and had strong and rational 
ground to hope, toward the close of their lives, 
that his labor had not been in vain. 

About this time Mr. Wesley visited Preston : 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 37 

and some of Mr. Bramwell's Christian friends 
took an opportunity of introducing him into the 
company of that great man. Mr. Wesley looked 
attentively at him, and said, " "Well, brother ! 
can you praise God 1" Mr. Bramwell replied, 
"No, sir!" Mr. Wesley lifted up his hands, 
and smiling, said, " Well ! but perhaps you will 
to-night." And indeed so it came to pass; for 
that very night he found the comfort he had lost, 
and his soul was again enabled to rejoice in the 
glorious liberty of the sons of God. 

This interview was rendered peculiarly bene- 
ficial to Mr. Bramwell. He soon received a 
clearer manifestation of the love of God, and was 
more fully established in the way of the Lord. 
His desire for the salvation of sinners was in- 
tense ; and this impelled him to labor in season 
and out of season. By his instrumentality, prayer- 
meetings at five o'clock in the morning were 
established. He became the leader of a class; 
and so zealous was he to promote the best 
interests of his fellow-creatures, that he began to 
exhort them to flee from the wrath to come. 

Very soon after Mr. Wesley's visit, Mr. Bram- 
well was appointed a local preacher. Not satis- 
fied, however, with laboring to save souls at 
Preston, he preached throughout its neighbor- 
hood, and that part of Lancashire, comprising a 
considerable tract of country, called the Fylde. 
It is said that his first text was, " Prepare to 
meet thy God V In visiting most of the villages 
in the neighborhood, he met with violent oppo- 
4 



38 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

sition and persecution, so that he might be truly 
said to have gone with his life in his hand. 

He had frequent struggles concerning his call 
to the ministry, and the subject lay with such 
weight upon his mind, that he has been known to 
spend a considerable portion of the night in 
wrestling with God for Divine direction in this 
important matter. His agony in prayer on these 
occasions was great : the sweat frequently poured 
down his face. And in allusion to this subject, 
and the exquisite perplexity of mind in which he 
was plunged, he often exclaimed to an intimate 
friend, u Robert ! Robert ! what shall I do V 

His feelings may, in some measure, be con- 
ceived, from the following circumstance related 
by himself : He was walking one day, with some 
friends, over Preston Moor, (about a mile and a 
half from the town,) when one of them asked him 
if he knew the place where the Rev. Isaac Am- 
brose* was accustomed to spend a month in retire- 
ment every year, and employ himself day and 
night in importunate prayer before God for the 

* It is related by the biographer of this heavenly- 
minded man, that he spent the last years of his life in 
Preston ; and that it was his custom annually to retire 
into a wood near the moor, and there to secrete himself 
for an entire month in a small hut, avoiding all human 
society and converse, and devoting his whole attention 
to Divine contemplation and fervent prayer. By this 
method he was better fitted, during the remainder of 
each year, for the services of his sacred calling ; and it 
was generally observed concerning him, that a peculiar 
unction accompanied his ministrations. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 39 

prosperity of his work. Mr. Brain well replied, 
'•'No; but under a certain hill near this place/' 
where there was a large sand-hole, " I once spent 
thirty-six hours together in prayer to the Lord, 
that I might know his will concerning me." 

Although he was thus the subject of much 
anxiety and temptation, yet he was often encour- 
aged by seeing the pleasure of the Lord prosper 
in his hand. Under his sermons multitudes 
were convinced of sin, and many received a know- 
ledge of their acceptance with God. Ann Cutler, 
or, as she was more familiarly called, " Praying 
Nanny," a woman remarkable for holiness, was 
one of the earliest fruits of his labors. She 
resided at a village near Preston, in which Mr. 
Bramwell frequently preached. 

In the work of the ministry he spared neither 
exertion nor expense. He sometimes paid five 
shillings for the hire of a horse, on the Sabbath ; 
and rode forty or fifty miles, preaching three or 
four times, and that very often in the open air. 
But it was his usual practice to walk on these 
occasions. 

Striking interpositions of Providence were ex- 
tended to him on many emergencies. Once, as 
he was returning from preaching, his horse fell, 
and threw him over its head with great violence, 
to a considerable distance. For a long time he 
lay senseless ; but on recovering from the shock, 
he rode forward to Preston, and preached the 
same evening, without any medical assistance. 
But the consequences of this fall had nearly 



40 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

proved fatal, for lie became extremely ill, and his 
health was with difficulty restored. 

Having experienced the pardoning mercy of 
God, he walked in the fear of the Lord, and 
enjoyed the comfort of the Holy Ghost. That 
he might more clearly perceive what was his 
Christian calling, and enjoy all the salvation 
purchased by the blood of Christ, he regularly 
perused the sacred volume, and implored Divine 
direction. Being obedient to the teachings of 
the Spirit, it was not long before he was con- 
vinced of the necessity of a further work of grace 
upon his heart. He now saw that it was his 
privilege to be cleansed from all sin. Miss Brew, 
now Mrs. George Barker, heard him relate the 
manner in which he received this great blessing 
of entire sanctification, nearly in the following 
words : " I was for some time deeply convinced 
of my need of purity, and sought it carefully 
with tears and entreaties and sacrifice ; thinking 
nothing too much to give up, nothing too much 
to do or suffer, if I might but attain this pearl of 
great price. Yet I found it not; nor knew the 
reason why, till the Lord showed me I had erred 
in the way of seeking it. I did not seek it by 
faith alone, but, as it were, by the works of the 
law. Being now convinced of my error, I sought 
the blessing by faith only. Still it tarried a 
little, but I waited for it in the way of faith. 
When in the house of a friend at Liverpool, 
whither I had gone to settle some temporal 
affairs previously to my going out to travel, I 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 41 

was sitting," said he, " as it might be on this 
chair," pointing to the chair on which he sat, 
" with my mind engaged in various meditations 
concerning my affairs and future prospects, my 
heart now and then lifted up to God, but not 
particularly about this blessing : heaven came 
down to earth ; it came to my soul. The Lord, 
for whom I had waited, came suddenly to the 
temple of my heart; and I had an immediate 
evidence that this was the blessing I had for 
some time been seeking. My soul was then all 
wonder, love, and praise. It is now about twenty- 
six years ago : I have walked in this liberty ever 
since. Glory be to God ! I have been kept by 
his power. By faith I stand. In this, as in all 
other instances, I have proved the Devil to be a 
liar : he suggested to me a few minutes after I 
received the blessing, that I should not hold it 
long — it was too great to be retained — and that I 
had better not profess it." 

Proceeding, he said : " I walked fifteen miles 
that night, to a place where I had an appointment 
to preach ; and, at every step I trod, the tempta- 
tion was repeated, ' Do not profess sanctification, 
for thou wilt lose it/ But in preaching that 
night, the temptation was removed, and my soul 
was again filled with glory and with God. I 
then declared to the people what God had done 
for my soul \ and I have done so on every proper 
occasion since that time, believing it to be a duty 
incumbent upon me. For God does not impart 
blessings to his children to be concealed in their 
own bosoms, but to be made known to all who 
4* 



42 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

fear him, and desire the enjoyment of the same 
privileges. I think such a blessing cannot be 
retained, without professing it at every fit oppor- 
tunity j for thus we glorify God, and ' with the 
mouth make confession unto salvation/ *' 

This account is much in unison with the fol- 
lowing declarations on the same subject by the 
Rev. John Fletcher, of Madeley. They are ex- 
tracted from the diary of that excellent woman, 
the late Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers ; and are here 
inserted, that u in the mouth of two or three wit- 
nesses, every word of this glorious doctrine may 
be established." 

" Leeds, Aug. 24, 1781.— That dear man of 
God, Mr. Fletcher, came with Miss Bosanquet, 
(now Mrs. Fletcher,) to dine at Mr. Smith's, in 
Park Row; and also to meet the select society. 
After dinner, I took an opportunity to beg he 
would explain an expression he once used to 
Miss Loxdale, in a letter, viz., 'That on all who 
are renewed in love, God bestows the gift of 
prophecy/ He called for the Bible, then read 
and sweetly explained the second chapter of the 
Acts ; observing, to ' prophesy/ in the sense he 
meant, was to magnify God with the new heart 
of love, and the new tongue of praise, as they 
did who, on the day of Pentecost, were filled 
with the Holy Ghost ! and he insisted that be- 
lievers are now called to make the same confes- 
sion, seeing we may all prove the same baptismal 
fire. He showed that the day of Pentecost was 
only the opening of the dispensation of the Holy 
Ghost — the great promise of the Father ! And 



MEMOIR OF W. BR AM WELL. 43 

that ' the latter-day glory/ which he believed was 
near at hand, should far exceed the first effusion 
of the Spirit. Therefore, seeing they then bore 
witness to the grace of our Lord, so should we; 
and, like them, spread the flame of love ! Then, 
after singing a hymn, he cried, '0 to be filled 
with the Holy Ghost ! I want to be filled ! 
my friends, let us wrestle for a more abundant 
outpouring of the Spirit ! ; To me he said, * Come, 
my sister, will you covenant with me this day to 
pray for the fulness of the Spirit ? "Will j'ou be 
a witness for Jesus V I answered, with flowing 
tears, 'In the strength of Jesus, I will/ He 
cried, ' Glory, glory, glory be to God ! Lord, 
strengthen thy handmaid to keep this covenant 
even unto death/ He then said, ' My dear brethren 
and sisters, God is here ! I feel him in this 
place ! But I would hide my face in the dust, 
because I have been ashamed to declare what he 
hath done for me ! For years I have grieved his 
Spirit ; but I am deeply humbled ; and he has 
again restored my soul ! Last Wednesday even- 
ing he spoke to me by these words : " Reckon 
yourselves, therefore, to be dead indeed unto sin ; 
but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord." I obeyed the voice of God : I now obey 
it ; and tell you all, to the praise of his love, I 
am freed from sin ! Yes, I rejoice to declare it, 
and to bear witness to the glory of his grace, that 
" I am dead unto sin, and alive unto God, through 
Jesus Christ," who is my Lord and King! I 
received this blessing four or five times before \ 
but I lost it by not observing the order of God, 



44 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

who hath told us, "With the heart, man be- 
lieveth unto righteousness ; and with the mouth, 
confession is made unto salvation." But the 
enemy offered his bait under various colors, to 
keep me from a public declaration of what my 
Lord had wrought. 

" ' When I first received his grace, Satan bid 
me wait awhile, till I saw more of the fruits : I 
resolved to do so, but I soon began to doubt of 
the witness, which before I had felt in my heart \ 
and was in a little time sensible I had lost both. 
A second time, after receiving this salvation, 
(with shame I confess it,) I was kept from being 
a witness for my Lord, by the suggestion, " Thou 
art a public character ; the eyes of all are upon 
thee ; and if, as before, by any means thou lose 
the blessing, it will be a dishonor to the doctrine 
of heart holiness, etc." I held my peace, and 
again forfeited the gift of God ! At another 
time, I was prevailed upon to hide it by reason- 
ing, "How few, even of the children of God, 
will receive this testimony ! many of them sup- 
posing every transgression of the Adamic law is 
sin ; and, therefore, if I profess myself to be free 
from sin, all these will give my profession the lie, 
because I am not free in their sense : I am not 
free from ignorance, mistakes, and various infir- 
mities. I will therefore enjoy what God has 
wrought in me, but I will not say I am perfect in 
love." Alas ! I soon found again, " He that 
hideth his Lord's talent, and improveth it not, 
from that unprofitable servant shall be taken 
away even that he hath." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 45 

M c Now, my brethren, you see my folly ! I 
have confessed it in your presence, and now I re- 
solve, before you all, to confess my Master ! I 
will confess him to all the world ! And I declare 
unto you, in the presence of God, the Holy 
Trinity, I am now " dead indeed unto sin." I 
do not say, "I am crucified with Christ;" because 
some of our well-meaning brethren say, " By this 
can only be meant a gradual dying;" but I pro- 
fess unto you, "I am dead unto sin, and alive 
unto God." And remember, all this is " through 
Jesus Christ our Lord!" He is my Prophet, 
Priest, and King ! My indwelling holiness ! 
my all in all ! I wait for the fulfilment of that 
prayer, " That they all may be one; as thou, 
Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also 
may be one in us; and that they may be one, 
even as we are one." for that pure baptismal 
flame ! for the fulness of the dispensation of 
the Holy Ghost ! Pray, pray, pray for this ! 
This shall make us all of one heart and of one 
soul ! Pray for gifts — for the gift of utterance ; 
and confess your royal Master ! A man without 
gifts is like the king in disguise : he appears as a 
subject only. You are kings and priests unto 
God : put on, therefore, your robes, and wear on 
your garter, Holiness to the Lord V 

"A few days after this, I heard Mr. Fletcher 
preach from the same subject, which greatly 
encouraged and strengthened me. He invited 
all who felt the need of full redemption to believe 
now for this great salvation. He observed, 'As 
when you reckon with your creditor, or with your 



46 MEMOIR OF W". BRAMWELL. 

host ; and as, when you have paid all, you reckon 
yourselves free, so now reckon with God, Jesus 
hath paid all ; and he hath paid for thee ! — hath 
purchased thy pardon and holiness. Therefore 
it is now God's command, " Reckon thyself dead 
indeed unto sin;" and thou art alive unto God 
from this hour ! begin, begin to reckon now ! 
Fear not : believe, believe, believe ! And con- 
tinue to believe every moment; so shalt thou 
continue free. For it is retained, as it is received, 
by faith alone. And whosoever thou art that 
perseveringly believest, it will be as a fire in thy 
bosom, and constrain thee to confess with thy 
mouth, thy Lord and King Jesus ! And, in 
spreading the sacred flame of love, thou shalt still 
be saved to the uttermost/ 

" He also dwelt largely on those words, ' Where 
sin abounded, grace did much more abound.' 
He asked, 'How did sin abound? Has it not 
overspread your whole soul ? Were not all your 
passions, tempers, propensities, and affections, 
inordinate and evil ? Did not pride, anger, self- 
will, and unbelief, all reign in you ? And when 
the Spirit of God strove with you, did you not 
repel all his convictions, and put him far from 
you? Well, my brethren, "ye were then the 
servants of sin, and were free from righteousness, 
but now, being free from sin, ye become servants 
to God;" and holiness shall overspread your 
whole soul : so that all your tempers and passions 
shall be henceforth regulated and governed by 
Him who now sitteth upon the throne of your 
heart, making all things new ! They shall there- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 47 

fore be all holy. And as you once resisted the 
Holy Spirit, so now you shall have power as 
easily to resist all the subtle frauds or fierce 
attacks of Satan. Yea, his suggestions to evil 
shall be like a ball thrown against a wall of brass ! 
It shall rebound back again ; and you shall know 
what that meaneth — " The prince of this world 
coineth, and hath nothing in me." * 

" He then, with lifted hands, cried, i Who 
will thus be saved ? Who will believe the report ? 
You are only in an improper sense called be- 
lievers who reject this. Who is a believer? 
One that believes a few things which his God 
hath spoken? Nay, but one who believes all 
that ever proceeded out of his mouth ! Here, 
then, is the word of the Lord, "As sin abounded, 
grace shall much more abound V As no good 
thing was in you by nature, so now no evil thing 
shall remain ! Do you believe this ? Or are 
you a half believer only ? Come, Jesus is offered 
to thee as a perfect Saviour : take him, and he 
will make thee a perfect saint ! ye half be- 
lievers, will you still plead for the murderers of 
your Lord ? Which of these will you hide as a 
serpent in your bosom ? Shall it be anger, pride, 
self-will, or accursed unbelief? be no longer 
befooled ! " Bring these enemies to thy Lord, 
and let him slay them." ' 

" Some days after this, being in Mr. Fletcher's 
company, he took me by the hand, and said, 
1 Glory be to God for you, my sister ! still bear a 
noble testimony for your Lord. Do you repent 
your confession of his salvation? I answered, 



48 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

1 Blessed be God, I do not/ At going away, lie 
again took me by my band, saying, with eyes and 
heart lifted up, i Bless her, Heavenly Power I' 
It seemed as if an instant answer was given, and 
a beam of glory let down ! I was filled with deep 
humility and love. Yea, my whole soul over- 
flowed with unutterable sweetness." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 49 



CHAPTER IV. 

Mr. Bramwell is called to supply the place of an itinerant preacher 
in Liverpool — He is recalled at the earnest request of his Preston 
friends — He commences business on his own account — Is again 
solicited by Dr. Coke to become an itinerant preacher — After 
some consideration, he embraces the offer, and begins to travel 
in the Kent Circuit — His manner of life, and ardent desire for 
the conversion of sinners — He is again brought into doubt re- 
specting his call to the ministry — Preaches at the place where 
seven men were executed — A remarkable dream. 

Mr. Bramwell was much blessed in his labors 
as a local preacher, and it was soon the unani- 
mous sentiment of the Church, that he was cal- 
culated for a much more extended sphere of 
usefulness. Indeed, for four years after he was 
free from his apprenticeship, he had himself felt 
a powerful persuasion that he was called by the 
great Head of the Church to the exercise of the 
ministry. On this account he had purposely 
abstained from engaging in any secular employ- 
ment for his own benefit, although he had an 
opportunity of doing it to great advantage. Dur- 
ing the whole of this period he had been occupied 
in introducing the doctrines and the discipline of 
the Methodists into many of the uncivilized dis- 
tricts around Preston, in a manner the most 
zealous and disinterested, his exertions being 
made entirely at his own charge. Such was the 
general impression which he had of his designa- 
tion to serve G-od in the gospel of his Son. But 
5 



50 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

with him, as with many other eminent heralds of 
Christ, this impression was subject to some fluc- 
tuating doubts; and it occasionally became the 
groundwork of Satan's buffeting and temptation. 
Yet it still retained its firm hold on his mind, and 
impelled him to continue his services in that 
best of causes, to which he considered himself 
devoted. 

About that time some new places had been 
added to the Liverpool Circuit. It therefore 
became requisite to have an additional preacher. 
Mr. Bramwell, having been recommended by the 
superintendent, was appointed by Mr. Wesley to 
go there and officiate as an itinerant preacher till 
the following Conference. He immediately com- 
plied ; but he had not been long employed in this 
capacity before a strong representation was made 
by his friends at Preston to induce Mr. Wesley 
to recall him, as the work of Grod in that town 
was then increasing, and Mr. Bramwell's labors 
were particularly required for its furtherance. 
To this request Mr. Wesley acceded, and Mr. 
Bramwell accordingly returned to Preston, to the 
great joy of those who had known him and felt 
the power of his preaching. By this arrange- 
ment, his parents, who had almost given him up 
as a desperate seceder from their principles, were 
exceedingly gratified, and fondly hoped to regain 
their former influence over him. 

He now thought his lot determined, and him- 
self providentially settled for life in Preston. 
He therefore commenced the business to which 
he had served an apprenticeship. But the Lord 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 51 

had prepared for him a far more important sta- 
tion, in which he had designed him to act a most 
conspicuous part. Not many months after he had 
taken a shop and house, Dr. Coke wrote to him 
several times, and earnestly requested him to give 
up his business, become an itinerant preacher, 
and travel in the Kent Circuit. Against the 
Doctor's arguments very powerful obstacles pre- 
sented themselves. Mr. Bramwell was comfort- 
ably settled in business ; his worldly prospects 
were peculiarly inviting, and he had formed an 
honorable and intimate connection with a pious 
young lady, a native of Preston, who had been 
converted under his preaching at an early period 
of his ministrations. He was surrounded by his 
family connections. His father and mother had 
shown themselves less bigoted in religious matters, 
and had evinced something resembling an esteem 
for Methodism. In fine, every thing concurred 
to invite him to sit down, acquire a fortune, and 
enjoy himself among his friends. 

This was a most important crisis in his life ; 
and his feelings on the occasion may be more 
easily conceived than expressed. He earnestly 
sought direction from Heaven, and consulted his 
Christian friends. At length, believing that he 
was called of God to devote himself entirely to 
the work of the ministry, he no longer conferred 
with flesh and blood, but immediately settled his 
temporal affairs, purchased a horse and a pair of 
saddle-bags, and rode to the Kent Circuit, in the 
winter of 1785, a distance of about three hundred 
miles. 



52 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

When Mr. Bramwell reached Canterbury, he 
found the society in a very languid state, a divi- 
sion having taken place some time previous to 
his arrival. But his entrance into the Circuit, 
with that man of God, Mr. Shadford, was the 
means of such a revival as had not been wit- 
nessed for many years. Mr. Bramwell adopted, 
from Mr. Shadford, a plan of more extensive 
usefulness and devotedness to God ; and though 
he afterward studied the lives of eminent minis- 
ters, and particularly that of Mr. T. Walsh, yet 
he never ceased to remember and imitate his 
venerable colleague. The people regarded Mr. 
Bramwell as a messenger of God, and expressed 
an earnest wish that those preachers who should 
afterward labor among them, might always mani- 
fest the same zeal, love, and disinterestedness in 
the sacred cause. 

His genuine piety and affectionate concern for 
the welfare of souls, and for the prosperity of the 
work of God, were evinced in the whole of his 
deportment among the people; and he was so 
truly consistent, that he never appeared to lose 
sight of his character as a Christian minister. 
Into whatever company he went, he seemed to 
carry with him a consciousness of the Divine 
presence, which influenced the whole of his con- 
duct. His visits were generally short, and he 
had such a happy method of improving the pre- 
sent moment, that levity and trifling could never 
appear in his presence. Frequently, when at 
prayer, so powerfully did he wrestle with God, 
that the room seemed filled with the Divine glory, 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 53 

in a manner the most extraordinary ; wliicli made 
some persons ready to imagine that the very 
boards shook under them. 

As there were many young persons added to 
the society in that circuit, he saw it necessary 
to guard them against the temptations to which 
young people are exposed; and to give greater 
effect to his exhortations, he addressed the dif- 
ferent sexes separately. One Sunday evening 
he would request the women in the society to 
stop, and not one of the other sex to be present. 
The following Sabbath he would meet all the 
men, and them only. This method had a good 
effect : it prevented the appearance of partiality, 
and gave him an opportunity of using much 
plainness of speech, and a greater degree of 
faithfulness. His instructions could not fail to 
be well received, because they were given with 
affection ; while the correctness of his own deport- 
ment rendered him unimpeachable. 

The prayer-meetings were generally held in 
private houses ) and as he knew the spiritual 
condition of certain persons present, when the 
meetings were over, he sometimes detained the 
people, saying, "Stop, friends! let us spend a 
few moments more for such and such a person. 
Probably such a one may be present and yet 
unblessed." At a meeting of this kind, while 
Mr. Bramwell was agonizing in prayer, a power- 
ful effusion of the Spirit descended upon the 
people, as though a flash of lightning had darted 
into the room. All present were deeply affected ; 
and at that moment Mrs. Parnell, who was in 
5* 



54 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

great distress, received a clear manifestation of 
the pardoning love of God. 

Though his labors were crowned with signal 
success, yet he was often greatly depressed in 
spirit, and tempted to leave the work in which 
he was engaged. On one of these occasions, he 
went to unbosom his mind to an old friend, in 
whose opinion he placed the greatest confidence. 
" Billy/' said the old man, " I will tell thee what 
thou must do : thou must go into thy closet, lock 
thyself up, and there take a review of thy life. 
If thou canst find that God has blessed thee with 
a single mercy, praise him for it." Mr. Brani- 
well went and practiced the advice which the old 
man had recommended; and immediately the 
remembrance of one mercy after another entered 
his mind. He saw that his whole life was marked 
with mercy. Gratitude sprang up in his heart. 
He broke forth in praises to God, took encour- 
agement, and went forward in the name of the 
Lord. He often remarked that, in such cases, it 
is a great blessing to have a judicious friend at 
hand. 

Like a faithful servant, he lost no opportunity 
of doing good whenever an occasion presented 
itself, although numerous dangers and difficulties 
might surround him in the attempt. Thus when 
seven young men were condemned to be hanged 
at Maidstone, another young preacher and he, on 
hearing of the intended execution, were much 
affected, and thought that one of them ought to 
preach on the occasion. After mature reflection, 
it was determined that Mr. Bramwell should 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 55 

address the assembled multitude. A large block- 
stone became his pulpit. When he began to 
speak to the immense concourse of people, the 
general cry was, " Knock the fellow down ! Kill 
him \" At this moment a gentleman on horse- 
back rode among the crowd, and cried, " He is a 
good man ! let him alone ! hear him 1" Through 
this stranger's manly interference, he was per- 
mitted to proceed and to finish his discourse. 
But he never knew the person to whom he was 
then indebted for a peaceful congregation. 

In the same circuit he was forewarned, in a 
dream, of approaching danger. He dreamed 
that he was waylaid in a certain road by some 
men, who wished to kill him. Having to go 
that way some time afterward, his dream occurred 
to him; he thought that there might be some- 
thing intended by it; he therefore determined to 
turn aside, and went another way. By adopting 
this resolution, he providentially escaped ; for, as 
he afterward found, certain men of bad character 
had been waiting for him at that very time with 
a fixed resolution to murder him, if he had passed 
along the road by which he usually went. 

He was once desired to pray with an unhappy 
female, who was very ill, and who had been much 
addicted to drunkenness. Some time before, her 
husband had become pious, and had often invited 
Mr. Bramwell to his house. This woman had 
been raised several times in answer to his prayers. 
He was sent for once more in haste from his cir- 
cuit to pray for her. When he arrived, he and 
her husband knelt down ; and after being silent 



56 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

a few minutes, he exclaimed, "I can pray no 
more ! The Lord will not answer ! She will 
now die V and in the course of a few hours the 
unhappy woman died. 

This was the first year of his itinerant minis- 
try, during which he did not spare himself, but 
was " in labors more abundant/ 7 By the Spirit 
of God he was instructed in many things that 
concerned the great work in which he was en- 
gaged. He delighted in his sacred calling ; and, 
from the success which attended his preaching, 
he was encouraged with increased earnestness to 
"do the work of an evangelist, , and make full 
proof of his ministry. " 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 57 



CHAPTEB V. 

Mr. Bramwell's marriage — Some misunderstanding with Mr. Wes- 
ley — By an extraordinary chain of circumstances, he is directed 
to labor in the Blackburn Circuit — His continued diligence — The 
mode of educating his children — His appointment to the Colno 
Circuit. 

It appears that Mr. Bramwell was to have been 
married on his return from Liverpool; but as 
Dr. Coke had repeatedly solicited him to go to 
Kent, he had the firmness to bid adieu to the 
object of his affections, and did not see her again 
until a year and a half had elapsed. 

Previous, however, to his acquiescence with 
Dr. Coke's request, he informed him that he 
could only go on condition that he might be mar- 
ried as soon as he returned. What the Doctor 
said to him is not now known ; but Mr. Bram- 
well always understood that he had obtained his 
promise and consent. He regularly corresponded 
with the young lady, Miss E. Byrom, who was 
of a very respectable family; and on his return 
to Preston, they were married accordingly, in 
July, 1787. At the Conference for the same 
year he was appointed by Mr. Wesley to labor in 
the Lynn Circuit; but, as Mrs. Bramwell could 
not leave Preston, on account of the arrangement 
of some family concerns, he thought it was not 
his duty to go to Lynn, and wrote to Mr. Wesley 



58 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

to that effect. Mr. Wesley did not think proper 
to appoint him to any other circuit, although he 
was earnestly requested to do so by Mr. Shadford, 
and some other aged preachers, who regarded Mr. 
Bramwell as an eminently useful and holy young 
man. His name, therefore, remained on the 
stations for Lynn, but he continued in Preston. 

To a man more inflated with an idea of his 
own consequence than Mr. Bramwell was, or less 
fervent and sincere in his wishes for the salvation 
of sinners, this second deferring of his hopes 
would have been most grievous and distressing. 
But though he was naturally of a sanguine dis- 
position, the grace of Grod had humbled his views, 
and made him willing to behold the glorious 
remedy of saving truth administered by any other 
hands than his own. He did not rate his minis- 
terial talents so highly as to imagine, with some 
weaklings, that when he was quiescent, the wheels 
of Christ's Church would not move at all, or 
would only have a tardy motion. He very pro- 
perly considered it a high honor to have "a dis- 
pensation of the gospel committed to him" by 
Christ Jesus, and to bear some humble yet active 
part in the grand operations of human redemp- 
tion. In the bare anticipation of this he had 
rejoiced, when he was first called to Liverpool. 
And when he was so honorably remanded to 
Preston, to move in an humbler sphere, and 
preach the glad tidings of peace among his 
friends and relatives, he had felt the summons to 
be no small trial. Yet to that which he deemed 
a providential call, he had yielded a cheerful 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 59 

obedience. He had now again dedicated him- 
self wholly to the work of the ministry, and by 
an unexpected occurrence* was compelled to 
desist from his labors as an itinerant preacher. 
This was a season in which Satan assailed him 
with heavy temptations. But having committed 
nothing worthy of reproach, he maintained his 
wonted firmness of spirit. He did not, like many, 



* When, in compliance 'with Dr. Coke's entreaties, 
he consented to give up his business and take a circuit, 
it -was a stipulation between the Doctor and him, that 
Mr. Bramwell should not be required to wait the usual 
period of probation before his marriage. Dr. Coke 
also promised him the benefit of his good offices with 
Mr. Wesley, for his appointment to the Blackburn Cir- 
cuit. The Doctor had either been unsuccessful in his 
application to Mr. Wesley, or had omitted the mention 
of all the particulars ; for Mr. Bramwell was nominated 
for the Lynn Circuit. He accounted this a breach of 
engagement ; and in his subsequent correspondence 
with Mr. Wesley, it is probable that he mentioned, 
without hesitation, his recent marriage with Miss 
Byrom, a circumstance which Mr. Y/esley had not 
before known, and which for the moment might give 
him some umbrage. 

The key to the whole of this proceeding is, that in 
the latter part of Mr. Wesley's life, the care of many 
of the societies devolved on Dr. Coke ; and Mr. Bram- 
well had stipulated with the proxy instead of the prin- 
cipal. Yet there was not even the shadow of bad faith 
on the part of Dr. Coke. He did not think it necessary, 
on every occasion of this kind, to burden Mr. Wesley's 
mind with matters of minor importance ; and he re- 
joiced greatly when Mr. Wesley, a few weeks after- 
ward, so promptly appointed Mr. Bramwell to the 
circuit of his choice. 



60 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

sullenly refuse to lend his hearty cooperation to 
the cause of God; but with pleasure embraced 
every opportunity of declaring the glad tidings 
of salvation. 

It is not here meant to be insinuated that Mr. 
Bramwell showed throughout this affair any dis- 
position of mind allied to stoical apathy. On the 
contrary, this proved to him a period of consider- 
able anxiety. It called for the exercise of all the 
faith and patience of which he was possessed. 
Not knowing how to act, he sometimes thought 
that, after all, the Lord might still intend him to 
be a man of business. But he recollected the 
word of the Lord, " In all thy ways acknowledge 
him, and he shall direct thy paths/' He gave 
himself to prayer, asked counsel of God, and was 
always ready to say, u Speak, Lord ! thy servant 
heareth." His way was soon made plain, and 
that in a manner which he could never have 
anticipated. 

In order more clearly to elucidate this circum- 
stance, it may be necessary to produce the follow- 
ing account, related by Mr. James Gray, and 
inserted in the Methodist Magazine for March, 
1818: 

"The Bristol Conference for 1786 appointed 
Messrs. Joshua Keighly and Edward Burbeck 
to labor in the Inverness Circuit. They met at 
Aberdeen, and set off for that circuit together. 
When approaching within two miles of Keith, on 
the high hill which overlooks it, in the dusk of 
the evening about sunset, they beheld, about 
twenty yards from them, a dark shade like a 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 61 

screen drawn right across the road. They took 
courage and rode up to it, which divided and 
opened like a two-leaf gate \ and as they passed 
through it, an audible voice said, 'You may 
pass on to your circuit, but shall never return to 
England/ 

" This prediction was actually accomplished, 
in the death of these two holy men of God in the 
course of the year. They slept at Keith that 
night, and next noon arrived at Elgin, where I 
then lived : I called at their lodgings, and found 
Mr. Keighly reading, and Mr. Burbeck had gone 
to bed, having rested none the preceding night, 
owing to the thoughts of the vision and the voice. 
Mr. Keighly then told me solemnly and seriously 
what I have related above. 

" They continued to fulfil the duties of their 
ministry until the end of July, about the time of 
the sitting of Conference; when Mr. Keighly 
was seized with a brain fever, and died on the 
eighth day. See my letter to Mr. Wesley, with 
a short account of his death, published in July, 
1788.* 



* As some additional particulars occur in the account 
of Mr. Joshua Keighly, to which Mr. Gray here refers, 
they are subjoined for the information of the pious 
reader : 

"He never expected his illness to be unto death, till 
about three days before he died : when he said, ' You 
shall have a twofold preacher here before Sunday.' 

"As there was no preacher on the spot, I took charge 
of his remains ; wrapped them in fine linen, like his 
Lord and Master ; gave letters of invitation to minis- 
6 



62 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

"Mr. Burbeck came four days after from 
Inverness, and lodged with me, until he received 
his appointment from Conference, which was for 
the Blackburn Circuit. He seemed anxious to 
get out of our circuit, that he might defeat the 
prediction. In pursuing his journey to Keith, 
he was taken ill, four miles before he reached 
that village, and was carried thither sick of a 
fever, and died on the ninth day. 

" Mr. Keighly was possessed of powerful 
natural talents, piety, and zeal for the salvation 
of the souls of men. Mr. Burbeck's constitution 
was nervous; but with a more pious, sincere, 
and upright minister, the Church of Christ is 
seldom blessed. " 

Brother Burbeck's box arrived at Blackburn, 

ters and magistrates ; and a gentleman gave me the use 
of his tomb to bury him in, which I gladly accepted. 

" The people of Elgin lament the death of this pious 
young man, whose preaching and holy conversation 
were made so great a blessing to many. And had 
it not been for the violence of his disorder, I doubt 
not but he would have borne as good a testimony for 
God in his last moments, as he had done before for 
many years. 

"When he was at Inverness last spring, he dreamed 
that he was condemned to die on the morrow. How- 
ever, he obtained leave of the judge to go and acquaint 
his father with his fate, and to prepare him for the 
shock ; which, as soon as he had done, the judge ap- 
peared to him again, and said, ' I have got you a short 
respite ; but, depend upon it, you shall die in Scotland.' 

" How unaccountable is this on the infidel and Sad- 
ducean supposition ! But how plain on that of a 
Christian !" 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 63 

and the society were in daily expectation of see- 
ing him. But they were afflicted with the intel- 
ligence that he had died in Scotland, on his way 
to the circuit. This providence was truly mys- 
terious, and especially when the circumstances 
that preceded it are considered. The society at 
Blackburn wrote to Mr. Wesley concerning it, 
informing him that they were without a preacher, 
and, it is probable, some mention was made of 
Mr. Bramwell in the same letter. Mr. Wesley 
immediately replied, by requesting Mr. Bramwell 
to take the Blackburn Circuit, and labor in Mr. 
Burbeck's place. 

To him and his friends this event appeared 
almost miraculous, and no room was left for the 
reasonings of unbelief. He was now fully per- 
suaded that he was called of God, and instantly 
prepared for his new station. Had he wished to 
fix upon a circuit that would have been the most 
convenient for himself and his wife, it would have 
been Blackburn, which then included the town 
of Preston, where it was necessary that Mrs. 
Bramwell should remain until her temporal and 
domestic affairs were regulated and finally settled. 
In the whole of this transaction it is easy to 
trace the footsteps of the Almighty, who is never 
at a loss to accomplish his own infinitely wise 
and gracious purposes by a thousand wondrous 
"ways to foolish man unknown." 

The society at Blackburn received Mr. Bram- 
well as an angel of the Lord. He left Mrs. 
Bramwell at Preston, while he labored in the 



64 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

circuit with his usual acceptance and success. 
Even at this early period of his ministry, his 
Christian beneficence was truly remarkable : 
when he met with objects of distress, he often 
gave them his all. When he returned to Pres- 
ton, to see Mrs. Bramwell, which was only once 
in a month, he generally requested her to supply 
him with more money, that he might have still 
further scope for the exercise of his charity. 

While he remained at Blackburn, he was ex- 
posed to the various persecutions which then 
raged against the followers of Mr. Wesley. Re- 
ligious liberty was at that time neither under- 
stood nor practiced; and, too frequently, those 
who ought to have redressed the wrong, were 
the most zealous in exciting it. 

In visiting some places in this circuit, Mr. 
Bramwell was obliged to pass a tan -yard where 
several bull-dogs were kept. These were always 
let loose upon him, and he was obliged to defend 
himself from their ferocious attacks as well as he 
could. A large stick, pointed with iron, which 
he procured for the purpose, was his weapon of 
defence ; it served also to assist him in walking. 
Notwithstanding this, his legs were frequently 
torn in a dangerous manner by these animals. 
The remembrance of the sufferings he thus en- 
dured, caused him, in the succeeding part of his 
life, to feel the greatest aversion to meet, alone 
and unprotected, dogs of this description. For 
many years afterward, and when the rights of 
toleration had become so far fixed as to render 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 65 

self-defence unnecessary, the stick pointed with 
iron was preserved, in memory of the good offices 
which it had rendered to its owner. 

We are now called to behold Mr. Bramwell in 
a different relation, and summoned to fulfil other 
important duties in life. Having entered into 
the marriage state with one who was in every 
respect suitable for him, he did not, like too 
many, relax in his zealous exertions, and become 
remiss in the discharge of his ministerial func- 
tions ) but while he manifested the greatest kind- 
ness to her who shared largely in his affections, 
he seemed to feel the import of these words of 
the apostle, u It remaineth that both they that 
have wives be as though they had none, and they 
that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not ; for the 
fashion of this world passeth away." On his 
return home from the circuit, his first inquiries 
in general were concerning spiritual things. He 
evinced the strongest desire to promote the best 
interests of a wife whom he ardently loved. 
Whenever he was called to leave her, he uni- 
formly commended her to God in earnest prayer. 

In September, 1788, the Lord blessed him 
with a son, whom he named George, after his 
father. Mrs. Bramwell was confined during his 
absence from Preston ; but she was speedily 
raised up again j and having regained her former 
strength, was soon enabled to perform the part of 
a mother to the immortal deposit with which she 
had been intrusted. It was her strongest wish, 
as it was eminently Mr. Bramwell' s, that this 
child, as well as all their future progeny, should 
6* 



66 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

be trained up in the service of God, to occupy 
the particular department which Providence 
might afterward assign to each of them. To 
store their infant minds with the best principles, 
at the same time that they were instructed in 
useful learning, Mr. Bramwell knew was the 
only proper way of qualifying them for filling 
any station to which they might be called. 

He had read Mr. Wesley's advice concerning 
the duty of parents toward their children, and 
resolved to act accordingly. He therefore deter- 
mined to break their wills at an early period, and 
not suffer them to cry aloud in his presence after 
they were ten months old. Although this may 
seem strange and unaccountable to those parents 
who criminally indulge their children, yet it is a 
fact which ought to be generally known, that Mr. 
Brainwell's children, when in health, were never 
permitted to cry aloud in his presence after they 
had attained to that age. "He ruled well his 
own house, having his children in subjection 
with all gravity." It must, however, be granted, 
that this would require a degree of apparent 
severity, which, if sanctioned in theory by parents 
in general, would probably never need to be 
adopted in practice. The propriety of Mr. Wes- 
ley's assertion on this particular has often been 
questioned, and some have said, that had he been 
a parent himself, he would have been better in- 
formed. But, with Mr. Bramwell, this method 
was not problematical : he tried the experiment, 
and most salutary were the effects which it pro- 
duced. His children feel to this day that they 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 67 

have the greatest reason to praise God for being 
favored in early life with the affectionate atten- 
tions of such a parent. The intense love which 
he entertained for all of them is evinced in vari- 
ous parts of the correspondence subjoined to this 
memoir. 

At the Conference of the year 1789, Mr. 
Bramwell was appointed to the Colne Circuit, in 
Lancashire. He travelled there two years, and 
the Lord blessed his labors during the whole of 
that time in an eminent manner. He resided at 
Southfield, about two miles distant from Colne. 
This circuit was large in extent ; and he was fre- 
quently thirty miles from home. Mrs. Bramwell 
was now called to endure all those privations to 
which the wives of the preachers were subjected, 
in the commencement of Methodism. She had 
left her friends, and her home at Preston, to 
reside among strangers ; and instead of enjoying 
the society of her husband, which might have 
compensated for other inconveniences, so unre- 
mitting were his exertions, and so fervent his 
zeal in promoting the interests of religion and 
the conversion of sinners, that he was never at 
home excepting one night in the course of every 
six weeks. 

In this circuit he was obliged to have recourse 
to his private property, and that of Mrs. Bram- 
well, for the means of subsistence, and for the 
indulgence of that benevolence which, according 
to his power, was boundless. 

But amidst all the outward difficulties with 
which he had to contend, "the pleasure of the 



05 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

Lord still prospered in his hand.' 7 " He went 
on his way rejoicing;" while by reading, medi- 
tation, and prayer, he continued sedulously to 
qualify himself for the important charge with 
which he had been intrusted. By this judicious 
course, he " studied to show himself approved 
unto God, a workman that needed not to be 
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 
His " profiting soon appeared unto all men." 
They perceived that "the hand of the Lord was 
with him." And while he improved in gifts 
and graces, the people of his care " rejoiced in the 
light which was thus transmitted." Among 
those in the Colne Circuit who received their first 
religious impressions under his ministry, many 
will be found to be "his crown of rejoicing in 
the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his 
coming." And what feeling in this mortal state 
can be conceived more exquisite in anticipation 
than that of a beloved pastor presenting the re- 
deemed of his flock before the throne of Jehovah, 
with, "Behold, I and the children whom the 
Lord hath given me !" 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 69 



CHAPTER VI. 

Mr. Bramwell's removal to the Dewsbury Circuit — State of religion 
in that town and neighborhood — He gives himself to prayer — 
The work of God begins to prosper — Ann Cutler is rendered use- 
ful in the revival — Great numbers converted — A remarkable 
dream— Clauses of his great popularity — Mr. Wesley's rules for 
a helper. 

At the Conference in 1791, Mr. Brarnwell 
was stationed for Dewsbury. Before that period, 
some very unpleasant disputes had existed among 
the society in that place; in consequence of 
which, a Mr. Atlay was called by the trustees to 
be their minister, and the chapel was then lost to 
the Methodist Connection. 

On Mr. Bramwell's arrival, he soon found that 
religious animosities and foolish bickerings had 
nearly destroyed the religion of both parties. To 
a minister of Christ whose only desire is to see 
Zion in prosperity, such a state of things would 
be peculiarly afflictive, and perhaps few could 
have felt it more keenly than Mr. Brarnwell. 
He mourned in private before the Lord; and 
from the commencement of his ministry among 
that people, he resolved to enter into no disputes. 
His object was to win souls to Christ: with him 
the possession of chapels was a thing of little 
importance. Adverting to the state of the so- 
ciety, he on one occasion writes as follows : u I 



70 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWEItL. 

could not find a person who experienced sanctifi- 
cation, and but few who were clear in pardon. 
The societies in some places increased; but active 
religion scarcely appeared I" 

Having witnessed the powerful effects of prayer 
in other places, he now began to supplicate the 
God of all grace. He exhorted the people to 
join him in this important duty; and, to afford 
them more frequent opportunities of doing this, 
he instituted prayer-meetings at five o'clock in 
the morning. The blessed effects of these earnest 
intercessions were soon apparent. At a band- 
meeting, in November, 1792, four persons entered 
into the glorious liberty of sanctification j one of 
whom, Mr. Joseph Drake, an itinerant preacher, 
who died in the year 1815, testified to the last of 
this great salvation. It has often been remarked, 
that when this doctrine is clearly and fully 
preached, and when a work of grace thus deepens 
in a society, there is generally a considerable 
increase of new converts : such was the case in 
the Dewsbury Circuit. 

About the same period, Ann Cutler was led to 
visit Dewsbury. It was her constant practice to 
rise between three and four o'clock in the morn- 
ing and wrestle with God for a revival, while Mr. 
Bramwell was engaged in the same exercise at 
that early hour in another apartment. It was 
almost impossible for any one to take repose by 
sleep, or be unrefreshed in spirit, while near two 
such zealous persons, who often relieved the bur- 
den of their souls by praying aloud. At length 
the Lord was graciously pleased to manifest his 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 71 

saving power among the people. Mr. Bramwell 
remarks, "As I was praying in my room, I re- 
ceived an answer from God in a particular way, 
and had the revival discovered to me in its man- 
ner and effects. I had no more doubt. All my 
grief was gone : I could say, l The Lord will 
come ; I know he will come, and that suddenly/ " 

He then says, " Nothing appeared very parti- 
cular till, under Nanny Cutler's prayer, one per- 
son received a clean heart. We were confident 
that the Lord would do the same for others. 

"At a prayer-meeting two found peace with 
God; and in that week two more received the 
same blessing. Ou the Sunday morning we had 
a love-feast for the bands, when several were 
much concerned for sanctification. One young 
woman received the blessing. On the Monday 
evening the bands met. A remarkable spirit of 
prayer was given to the people. Four persons re- 
ceived sanctification, and some were left in distress. 

"Several who were the most prejudiced were 
suddenly struck, and in agonies groaned for de- 
liverance. On the Thursday, one who had been 
exceedingly pained for purity of heart, for a fort- 
night, was delivered. 

" The work continued almost in every meeting; 
and sixty persons in and about Dewsbury received 
sanctification, and walked in that liberty. Our 
love-feasts began to be crowded, and people from 
every neighboring circuit visited us. Great 
numbers found pardon, and some perfect love. 
They went home and declared what God had 
done for them. 



72 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

" The more I consulted the Acts of the Apos- 
tles, and Church history, the more I was con- 
vinced that this was no new thing, either in its 
manner or effects ; but that in every great work 
of God similar effects were produced. I con- 
sulted several of the senior brethren, who ex- 
horted me to use every means to support the 
revival. Satan began to use his agents in dif- 
ferent ways : some said one thing, and some an- 
other, but no man without the Spirit of God can 
properly judge of the matter/' 

The work then began to spread in almost every 
direction. In one quarter about one hundred 
new members were added to the society, and 
many believers were quickened, and excited to 
greater diligence and activity in the work of the 
Lord. Mr. Bramwell " rejoiced as one that had 
found great spoil/' To see sinners awakened, 
penitents pardoned, and believers enjoying sanc- 
tification, afforded him the most lively satisfac- 
tion. This great revival occurred during the 
second year of his stay in Dewsbury. The first 
he describes as "a year of hard labor and much 
grief/' It was the season of "his sowing in 
tears," but in the second year "he reaped in 
joy." On more occasions than this, he verified 
in his own experience that declaration of the 
Psalmist, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, 
bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again 
with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him/' 
Being a man "strong in faith, he continued 
instant in prayer." While he waited on the 
Lord, he was of good courage, and the Lord 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 73 

strengthened his heart. From the time when he 
first entered on his labors in the Dewsbury Cir- 
cuit, his heart would have fainted within him, 
" unless he had believed to see the goodness of 
the Lord in the land of the living/' 

Thus was his joy fulfilled in many of the souls 
confided to his care by the great Shepherd. In 
order to be rendered more extensively useful, he 
visited them from house to house ; and advised, 
reproved, exhorted, or comforted them, as cir- 
cumstances might require. In some instances, 
his great concern for the temporal, as well as the 
spiritual welfare of the people, was instrumental 
in effecting the conversion of those who had 
before been careless and unconcerned about their 
personal salvation. His uniform conduct, and 
his conscientious and un deviating attention to 
the important duties of the ministry, soon ren- 
dered him extremely popular ; and even many of 
the rich and honorable frequently attended his 
preaching. 

About this time his intimate friend, Mr. John 
Nelson, had a remarkable dream : he thought he 
saw Mr. Bramwell standing on the top of a very 
high ladder, which appeared to be elevated in a 
perpendicular direction, its base resting on the 
ground; but it was without any support or stay 
at its summit. From this Mr. Nelson inferred 
that Mr. Bramwell was placed in a perilous situa- 
tion. He immediately wrote and informed him 
of the dream; and by way of caution, added, 
that he appeared in that dream "to have mounted 
as high as he could get." " Yes," replied Mr. 
7 



74 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

Bramwell, when he answered his letter, "but did 
you see me fall V 

For the information of those persons who may 
express some surprise at the popularity which Mr. 
Bramwell gained in the early part of his ministry, 
and which attended him to the close of life, it is 
necessary to state, that he was a man who strictly 
observed the twelve Rules which are given in 
" The Large Minutes," respecting the office and 
duty of a Methodist preacher. He was one of 
those primitive helpers in whom Mr. Wesley de- 
lighted, and who carry with them the unction, 
life, and power of godliness. 

The following most important rules Mr. Bram- 
well particularly regarded : they were the guides 
of his conduct, yet always in subordination to 
the Holy Scriptures. He viewed them indeed as 
an exposition of several scriptural directions ; and 
valued them highly, on account of their salutary 
consequences. 

" Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never 
be triflingly employed. Never while away time, 
nor spend more time at any place than is strictly 
necessary. 

" Be serious. Let your motto be, Holiness to 
the Lord. Avoid all lightness, jesting, and fool- 
ish talking. 

" Believe evil of no one unless fully proved : 
take heed how you credit it. Put the best con- 
struction you can on every thing. You know 
the judge is always supposed to be on the pri- 
soner's side. 

" Speak evil of no one ; else your word, espe- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWLLL. 75 

cially, would eat as doth a canker : keep your 
thoughts within your own breast, till you come 
to the person concerned. 

" Tell every one what you think wrong in him, 
lovingly and plainly, and as soon as may be, else 
it will fester in your own heart. Make all haste 
to cast the fire out of your bosom. 

" Do not affect the gentleman. A preacher of 
the gospel is the servant of all. 

" Be ashamed of nothing but sin ; no, not of 
cleaning your own shoes, when necessary. 

" Be punctual. Do every thing exactly at the 
time. And do not mend our rules, but keep 
them, and that for conscience' sake. 

"You have nothing to do but to save souls. 
Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And 
go always, not only to those who want you, but 
to those who want you most. 

a Act in all things, not according to your own 
will, but as a son in the gospel, and in union 
with your brethren. As such, it is your part to 
employ your time as our rules direct ; partly in 
preaching and visiting from house to house : 
partly in reading, meditation, and prayer. 

a Observe : It is not your business to preach 
so many times, and to take care merely of this 
or that society ; but to save as many souls as you 
can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly 
can to repentance, and with all your power to 
build them up in that holiness, without which 
they cannot see the Lord." 

Early rising was also a point on which Mr. 



76 MEMOIR OP W. BEAMWELL. 

Wesley uniformly insisted. He required it of 
every one that became a helper. 

These rules did not lie inactive in Mr. Bram- 
welFs mind, as a dead letter : he practiced them, 
because he conceived they were the specific terms 
of his admission into the Christian ministry ; and 
he could esteem himself a true Methodist helper 
no longer than while he acted agreeably to their 
spirit and intent. In the character which he 
acquired of being a strict disciplinarian, it was 
evident that the greatest severity was exercised 
on himself, and that the law by which he had to 
govern others, was, in its execution, a system of 
real mildness. 

Who does not perceive that he who adheres 
conscientiously to these, and similar directions, 
must be a pious and useful character ? Such was 
Mr. Bramwell. By a constant observance of 
these excellent regulations, he became " a vessel 
unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's 
use, being prepared unto every good work." 
2 Tim. ii. 21. Into whatever circuit he went, 
the people immediately perceived, from the zeal- 
ous manner in which he discharged the duties of 
his sacred calling, that he considered the work of 
the ministry to be no trifling occupation. The 
simplicity of the method "by which it hath 
pleased God, in his infinite wisdom, to save them 
that believe," excited his admiration. And how- 
ever it might be stigmatized, in the view of 
human wisdom, as "the foolishness of preach- 
ing," he felt in himself, and perceived in others, 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 77 

that the declaration of " Christ crucified/' uni- 
versally proved to be " Christ the power of God 
and the wisdom of God." Having these just 
views of the divinely appointed means of salva- 
tion, he meditated on the things which related to 
his labors; and adopted those plans which he 
deemed best calculated to render them efficient 
and acceptable. He endeavored truly to make it 

"All his business here below 
To cry, Behold the Lamb !" 



7* 



78 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Mr. Bramwell's labors and success in the Birstal Circuit — A great 
revival — Answers to prayer — Reflections on this revival. 

Mr. Bramwell was appointed in the year 
1793 to labor in the Birstal Circuit. A revival 
of the work of God had commenced in the pre- 
ceding year, under the ministry of Messrs. Jack- 
son and Smith. On his entrance into this circuit, 
he did not use any extraordinary public efforts, 
but prayed much in private, sometimes whole 
nights, and exhorted every one in society to adopt 
the same practice. These nights were occasion- 
ally spent in intercessions before the mercy-seat 
of God, in behalf of certain individuals, for 
whose spiritual welfare he felt an uncommon 
concern. 

At the love-feast on Christmas-day, 1793, the 
Lord poured out his Spirit in a very remarkable 
manner. Many persons were clearly awakened, 
and not less than fifty souls "obtained redemp- 
tion through the blood of Jesus Christ, the for- 
giveness of sins." Some of these H continued 
faithful unto death," and have long ago " re- 
ceived a crown of life;" and others are " press- 
ing toward the mark, for the prize of the high 
calling of God in Christ Jesus." 

His colleague could not endure the apparent 



MEMOIR OP W. CRAMWELL. 79 

confusion which was frequent on these occasions. 
He therefore thought it his duty to oppose the 
revival, and his conduct influenced the leaders, 
who for a time maintained a cautious reserve, 
and kept at a great distance, not knowing what 
judgment to form about these strange proceed- 
ings. One of the most judicious of them, Mr. 
Thomas Crowther, of Gomersal, declares the 
change of his sentiments thus : " In the love- 
feast on Christmas-day, I had such a conviction 
that this work was of (rod, as caused me immedi- 
ately to close in with it, and to give it, not only 
my approval, but my hearty cooperation. When 
I came out of the chapel on that day, several of 
the leaders gathered around me, and asked me 
what I still thought about it. I replied, ' We 
have long been praying for a revival of religion, 
and now, when it is granted to us, shall we be 
dissatisfied, and oppose its progress, because it 
does not exactly accord with our weak ideas, and 
does not manifest itself in the particular manner 
in which we expected it V " From this time all 
the leaders joined heartily with Mr. Bramwell in 
the work, and their united labors were crowned 
with abundant success. In the Birstal society 
alone, six leaders are now living who were con- 
verted during the revival under Mr. Bramwell's 
ministry; independently of many other leaders 
belonging to different societies in the circuit, who 
obtained, at the same time, "like precious faith" 
with them. 

The next love-feast, held on Easter Sunday, 
was also a time of refreshing from the presence 



80 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

of the Lord : other fifty souls were " turned from 
darkness to light." 

About this time an extraordinary influence 
went forth, and began to manifest itself among 
the people. Persons of e.very rank attended the 
preaching of the word : all the chapels, and the 
private houses appropriated to the purposes of 
Divine worship, were exceedingly crowded. 

It was customary with Mr. Bramwell, when in 
the country, to visit the different families of his 
hearers, and pray with each of them. In com- 
pany, he constantly endeavored to redeem the 
time by the most profitable exercises. He would 
not converse on trifling subjects; but the most 
common theme of his discourse was, "What shall 
we do to praise the Lord more, to promote his 
glory, and obtain greater blessings t" His ser- 
mons were attended with such mighty power, 
that several persons were generally in distress 
before the conclusion of the service. After 
preaching, he often desired those who felt dis- 
posed, to stop and unite with him in holding a 
prayer-meeting : so that, in general, it was ten or 
eleven o'clock at night before they left the chapel. 

When opportunities offered, he occasionally 
held watch-nights in the circuit in private houses. 
In one held at Little Gomersal, there appeared 
to be nothing particular at the beginning. At 
ten o'clock Mr. Bramwell was about to conclude; 
but he commenced again, and continued engaged 
in prayer until twelve o'clock. At that hour he 
still felt unwilling to break off, and, like Jacob, 
said in his heart, 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 81 

With thee all night I mean to stay 
And -wrestle till the break of day. 

In a short time a young woman cried aloud for 
mercy ; several more were soon after in deep dis- 
tress; and before four o'clock in the morning 
fifteen souls enjoyed a sense of pardon, and were 
made glad in the God of their salvation. At an- 
other watch-night, held in Hunsworth Lane, 
about the same time, there were many souls 
saved. Those meetings were frequent in several 
parts of the circuit, and were always attended 
with a manifest blessing. 

After preaching at Morley one evening, he 
went into a friend's house to pray for a person in 
distress, and continued praying for the space of 
two hours. All that were present prayed in 
rotation more than once; but he prayed alter- 
nately with every one that engaged in the exer- 
cise. While he and his friends were thus 
employed, a young man, a stranger to the Me- 
thodists, who was passing by, heard them, and 
approached the door to listen : he was imme- 
diately seized with conviction, fell down on his 
knees, and, after remaining out of doors in that 
situation some time, entered the house and knelt 
down. He was seen to tremble exceedingly, and 
soon afterward fell down on the floor : he did not, 
however, lie long in that situation, but arose and 
began to praise God for pardoning his iniquities, 
and giving him to enjoy the light of his recon- 
ciled countenance. 

" So mightily grew the word of God and pre- 
vailed," that at the close of Mr. Bramwell's 



82 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

labors in this circuit, the number in society was 
doubled; without mentioning the multitude of 
those who were still under serious impressions, 
but had not united themselves in Church-fellow- 
ship, and others who were in that state of proba- 
tion which is usually observed in the economy of 
Methodism, prior to their admission into all its 
privileges. 

The following simple narrative, by Mr. Thomas 
Pearson, Sen., of Gomersal, affords some further 
details of this work of God in that village : 

"In the year 1793, at the commencement of 
the late war, a day was appointed by the govern- 
ment to be set apart for fasting and prayer ; in 
consequence of which prayer-meetings were held 
in our village. Keligion was at that time at a 
very low ebb. The first meeting was held at our 
house in the morning. Many attended ; and no 
sooner had we commenced the service than the 
power of God manifestly affected the assembly. 
I had been chosen a leader about four months 
before. We had only seven members in the 
class ; and but five of them could be termed real 
members. Mr. Jackson was then in the circuit. 
The work gradually revived till Conference ; and 
our class increased to about twenty-seven. 

"At this time Mr. Bramwell was appointed to 
labor among us. He had been the year before 
in Dewsbury, where God had abundantly owned 
his labors. He came to us full of faith and 
of the Holy Ghost. His powerful preaching and 
fervent prayers were so mighty through faith, 
that the stoutest-hearted sinners trembled under 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. bo 

him. Before that time we had a partial outpour- 
ing; but a mighty shower then descended, and 
the truth and power of G-od wonderfully pre- 
vailed. My class soon increased to sixty mem- 
bers; and all ranks and degrees of men began 
to attend the preaching. Every place of worship 
in the neighborhood was crowded. Young per- 
sons only ten years of age were clearly awakened, 
and savingly converted. This had such an effect 
upon their parents that many of them also were 
awakened. The revival was esteemed by many 
to be extraordinary and singular : some thought 
the work was of God, and others that it was too 
enthusiastic. But it often happened when the 
persons who had imbibed the latter opinion went 
to hear for themselves, the Divine power affected 
them, and they were constrained to cry aloud to 
God for mercy. Every man that held any office 
among us entered heartily into the work and per- 
formed his duty. 

" When Mr. Bramwell preached at Gromersal, 
he generally remained all night at our house. As 
soon as dinner was over, it was his constant prac- 
tice to pray in the family, and then to visit the 
neighbors from house to house. In this way he 
generally called on seventeen or eighteen differ- 
ent families before tea, and prayed in each of 
them with the utmost fervor. I was accustomed 
to invite a few of our friends, whose chief desire 
was to have their souls blessed, to take tea with 
Mr. Bramwell in the afternoon. Affectionate 
inquiry was then made into the state of each per- 
son's mind. They who had not received the 



84 MEMOIR OF "W. BRAMWELL. 

blessing of justification were urged not to rest 
until they had obtained it ; and they who were 
justified, not to rest until they were sanctified, 
and made new creatures in Christ Jesus. After 
supper, he and I conversed some time about the 
affairs of the Church at large ; he then prayed 
and retired to rest. Although Mr. Brain well 
was greatly fatigued with the work of the day, 
and, when at our house, went to bed late, gene- 
rally about twelve o'clock, he always rose the 
next morning at five, and prayed for particular 
persons by name, and for every society through- 
out the circuit. 

a I have been acquainted with many pious and 
holy persons, but one like Mr. Bramwell, for 
faith and prayer, I never beheld. While he con- 
tinued with us the work went on progressively, 
and there was such an alteration throughout the 
circuit as was never before witnessed." 

While Mr. Bramwell was attending the district 
meeting in Leeds, he accompanied Mr. John 
Nelson, one evening, to Kirkstall Forge, and 
preached out of doors to a large and attentive 
congregation. When the service was closed, a 
great part of the company retired into the chapel 
to hold a watch-night. The Spirit of God was 
poured out, and many were awakened. While at 
prayer, the next morning, a female in the family 
where he lodged, who had a great aversion against 
being converted in a noisy meeting, felt the power 
of God descend upon her; but endeavoring to 
stifle her convictions, she fell down upon the 
floor, and remained four hours in a state of appa- 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 85 

rent insensibility, so that many said she was dead. 
However, on giving up her own will, and yielding 
to be saved in God's way, she revived, and was 
made happy. 

During his residence in Birstal, many of those 
who had profited under his ministry in Dews- 
bury called on him and consulted him as an old 
and well-tried friend. Indeed, all who had once 
proved the kindness and affection of his sympa- 
thizing spirit, accounted it a great advantage to 
unburden their minds in his presence. His 
counsel was not confined to spiritual things ; but, 
when desired, he gave them the most judicious 
advice respecting their temporal affairs. On 
these occasions he always closed the interview 
by fervent prayer to God in behalf of the persons 
who were present, mentioning particularly the 
things about which he had been consulted, whe- 
ther they related to the soul or the body. 

Among others who often availed themselves of 
this privilege, Mr, Thomas Jackson, who is a 
woollen-cloth manufacturer, and a local preacher 
in the Dewsbury Circuit, observes : 

"One Tuesday morning, as I was going to 
Leeds market, I called upon Mr. Bramwell at 
Birstal. Our trade was at that time in a state of 
great depression. I had many goods on hand in 
the cloth hall, and was not able during many 
weeks to dispose of a single piece. I related 
these circumstances to Mr. Bramwell. Feeling 
much for my situation, he said, i Thomas, let us 
pray!' We knelt down together ; and he prayed 
with such holy fervency, and such expressions of 



86 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

confidence in God, as I shall not soon forget. He 
spoke in faith, as if it had been actually revealed 
to him that my help was at hand. I set off 
from his house, and pursued my journey to 
Leeds, endeavoring all the way to believe what 
the man of God had uttered in prayer. My 
faith gained strength by reflecting on the many 
gracious declarations which God had given in his 
word concerning his care for the bodies of his 
people, and his supply of their wants. I soon 
found him to be the God of providence as well as 
of grace ; for I had not been more than a quarter 
of an hour at my stand in the cloth hall, before a 
merchant, with whom I had never before traded, 
came up to me and purchased all the goods which 
I had on hand. This answer to prayer proved to 
me, at that period, a most seasonable relief, and 
has encouraged me ever since to confide in the 
provident goodness of my Heavenly Father. 

"I know several extraordinary instances of 
answers to Mr. Bramwell's prayers. Take the 
following : One day, when he was at our house, a 
local preacher came in haste to request that he 
would instantly return with him, and pray with a 
gentleman who was then extremely ill, and appa- 
rently in the article of death, yet altogether 
unprepared for such an awful change. I united 
my pressing solicitations with those of the mes- 
senger, to induce him to go; but, after all our 
reasoning and entreaties, we could not prevail. 
Seating himself in a thoughtful posture, he ap- 
peared for a short time to be in a state of mental 
abstraction. He then said, 'Let us pray!' and 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 87 

kneeling down, he prayed in a most powerful 
manner. Among other strong expressions which 
he employed, he declared, in all the confidence of 
faith, ' Lord ! we believe thou wilt save the 
gentleman about whom we have been talking !' 
The local preacher retired ; and I own my sur- 
prise was great when a few days afterward I was 
told that the gentleman had very soon expe- 
rienced the pardoning love of God, and had re- 
ceived a blessed assurance of favor Divine/' 

Many of Mr. Bramwell's friends, in their inter- 
course with him, have remarked that he possessed 
a gift which nearly resembled "the discerning of 
spirits/' His intimate commuuion and close 
walk with God, entitled him to the appellation 
which was given to Abraham : " He was called 
the friend of God." When the Lord was about 
to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he said, " Shall 
I hide from Abraham that thing which I do I" 
It is not, therefore, at all wonderful, if men emi- 
nent for piety often find, in more senses than one, 
that "the secret of the Lord is with them that 
fear him." Do not those affairs which are termed 
"common providential occurrences," speak in 
other language to them than to the rest of man- 
kind? How much clearer then must be their 
apprehension of spiritual things, since it is pecu- 
liarly in these that " God manifests himself unto 
them, and not unto the world !" The nature of 
the communion which holy souls enjoy with God, 
and the terms of the close relation which subsists 
between him and them, are not at all times proper 
subjects of description. The promiscuous dis- 



88 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

closure of them is often only "casting pearls 
before swine." Those who attempt to explain 
such things most commonly display a profundity 
of mysticism, because they are tempted to travel 
wide of the record which the Scriptures give, 
and to employ phrases which are not congenial to 
the simplicity of the gospel. 

Some of the gifts which good men receive may 
be mentioned to edification, because they are " for 
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the 
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." 
Others are of a more particular, secret kind, and 
communicated only to chosen souls. They form 
no subject of instruction to other persons, but 
seem to be tokens of Divine regard toward the 
individuals themselves. "A stranger intermed- 
dleth not with" the satisfaction which they con- 
vey. Of the latter description was the discern- 
ment of the spirits of men which Mr. Bramweli^ 
at times appeared to possess. He was neither 
accustomed to speak of it in public, nor in the 
company of friends. Its effects have been fre- 
quently noticed; and, indeed, his occasional ex- 
ercise of it in the presence of others, was the 
only method by which it ever became visible. 
Mr. Thomas Jackson, the good man who is the 
narrator of the preceding anecdotes, gives the 
first of the following instances, and Mr. Stones, 
a zealous itinerant preacher, has communicated 
the others : 

"A woman with whom I was well acquainted, 
and who had been a member of the Methodist 
society many years, came into our house one day, 



MEMOIR OF W. BR AM WELL. 89 

when Mr. Braniwell was with us. He looked 
earnestly at her, and said, * Woman ! you are a 
hypocrite ! and if you do not repent and become 
converted, hell will be your everlasting portion !' 
He then added, ' I know you will hate me for 
thus speaking the truth/ I was amazed at the 
abruptness of his manner, and the strong language 
in which he expressed himself; and not the less 
when I reflected on the person to whom all this 
had been said, because I entertained a high 
opinion of her religious character. But I was 
soon convinced of the truth of Mr. BramwelFs 
words; for the poor woman had departed self- 
condemned and humbled under a consciousness 
of her guilt. She sent for me late in the even- 
ing of the same day, and desired me to pray with 
her, as she felt herself in great distress of spirit. 
I found her calling to ' remembrance from whence 
she had fallen :' she was in a hopeful state of re- 
pentance, and desirous of 'doing the first works/ 
I therefore complied with her request, and poured 
out my soul before the throne of grace in earnest 
intercessions. In the course of a few hours, the 
Lord was pleased to manifest his mercy to her, 
and by 'his Spirit bore witness with her spirit 
that she was a child of God.' Her joy was ex- 
cessive ; and she has been often heard to declare, 
that if she had died in the state of mind in which 
Mr. Bramwell saw her, she must have been eter- 
nally lost/' 

"One day," says Mr. Stones, "as he and I 
were going together to visit the sick, we passed 
a public-house,, out of which came a man just as 
8* 



90 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

we had got beyond the door. When we had 
proceeded a little farther Mr. Bramwell groaned 
in spirit, and said, 'The Lord have mercy on 
that man ! Do you know who he is V I replied, 
' Yes, sir ! Do you V i No/ said he, ' but this 
I know, that he is a perfect infidel/ ' Dear Mr. 
Bramwell !' said I, l do not say so/ He replied, 
with increased emphasis, ' I am sure of it ! He 
is a perfect infidel V It is remarkable that this 
very man, to my certain knowledge, was then, 
and for aught I know to the contrary, is still, 
such a character for infidelity and profaneness as 
perhaps has not his equal in all Yorkshire, if in 
the United Kingdom. 

" One night, as I was preaching at Birstal, a 
man, who was a stranger to all present, either in 
pretence or reality fell ill, and had to be taken out 
of the chapel. The account which he afterward^_ 
gave of himself was, that he came out of Lanca- 
shire, (from Leigh or its vicinity,) was in search 
of work, had had nothing to eat for three or four 
days, etc. One of our friends took him home, 
and gave him a night's lodging. The next morn- 
ing two of the friends came to me and expressed 
a desire to beg something for the relief of the 
poor man. I immediately headed the subscrip- 
tion list with the small sum which I considered 
it my duty to give; and they went round the 
village to obtain what they could from others. 

"In the meantime Mr. Bramwell came home 
out of the circuit. I related the whole affair to 
him. He wished greatly to see the man himself; 
and I went with him to the house where the man 



MEMOIR OF W. BR AM WELL. 91 

had lodged during the preceding night. We 
found him within ; for he was waiting to receive 
the money which the friends were collecting for 
him before he took his departure. The man very 
pathetically related his tale of woe to Mr. Bram- 
well. His account appeared to me to be quite 
rational, accurate, and ingenuous : it pierced to 
the bottom of my heart. While the man was 
rehearsing his troubles, Mr. Bramwell had his 
eyes closed, and frequently groaned in spirit. 
At length he lifted up his head and looked at the 
man with an eye that seemed to pierce him 
through, and said, ' Tell me ! Is there not a 
bastard child in all this V The man appeared to 
be thunderstruck : he began to tremble, faltered 
in his speech, and at length confessed that he 
had left home to avoid the payment to an illegi- 
timate child which the law exacted. Mr. Bram- 
well very faithfully warned him of his sin and 
danger, and advised him to go home, desist from 
his evil practices, and turn to Grod with purpose 
of heart. The man expressing some reluctance 
about returning home, Mr. Bramwell threatened 
to have him taken up as an impostor, if he did 
not leave the town immediately. We watched 
him out of the town, and were glad that he had 
gone away without his booty. Mr. Bramwell 
afterward assured me that, to the best of his 
recollection, he had never seen the man before." 
The revival of religion, of which a very imper- 
fect detail has been given in this chapter, was 
felt not only in Birstal, but in all the neighbor- 
ing circuits. Many carnal persons, that had 



92 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

heard wonderful accounts about the individuals 
who, it was said, "had turned the world upside 
down/' went to Birstal out of curiosity. Their 
going up was sanctified to numbers of them, who, 
on their return, could say " with a glad heart and 
free," " It is good for us to have been there I" 
They obtained pardon and peace, and "went 
down to their houses justified," and praising the 
Grod of their salvation. 

But this great work was as remarkable for the 
quickening and purifying of believers, as for the 
awakening and "justifying of the ungodly." 
The mention of a "clean heart" had been, to 
several of their incredulous minds, a sound as of 
one that "brought certain strange things to their 
ears." They were, however, inclined to go up in 
the character of spies ; but many of them felt to 
their comfort that the place which they went "to- 
explore was nothing less than a land of Groshen. 
There they found "a feast of fat things full of 
marrow, and of wines on the lees well refined." 
While they were led to pray, " Create in me a 
clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me," 
the answer was given, "I will : be thou clean;" 
and they departed from that place glorifying Grod. 
Great was the multitude of those who at such 
seasons had joined themselves to the assembly of 
the faithful without indulging in any expecta- 
tion of obtaining a blessing. 

But the humble souls who, in the simplicity 
of their hearts, had gone up "hungering and 
thirsting after righteousness, were not disap- 
pointed or sent empty away, but were filled with 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 93 

the good things" of the kingdom. These were 
as the days of "the Son of man;" and long will 
they be remembered. Many believers now living 
in the Leeds, Halifax, Bradford, and Hudders- 
field circuits, refer to that period as to the time 
of their espousals to Christ. The Holy Spirit 
wrought powerfully. Faith was in lively exer- 
cise, both in the preachers and the people. The 
weapons which they wielded were "not carnal, 
but mighty through God to the pulling down of 
strongholds." The shaking among the dry bones 
was wonderful; and before Mr. Bramwell left 
that circuit, such was the extraordinary influence 
of the Spirit, that while he prophesied to them, 
they stood up "a goodly multitude, complete." 
" The bones had come together, sinews and flesh 
had come upon them, and the skin had covered 
them above j and the breath had come into them, 
and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an 
exceeding great army." " This was the Lord's 
doing : it was marvellous in the eyes -of all." 
The characteristics of this work were so striking 
as to convince even the profane that it "was not 
of men, but of Grod." Very few mockers were 
found in that circuit. If there were any to 
whom the following words of St. Paul could 
apply, they were people who resided at a distance 
from the scene of these Divine operations, and 
who heard only exaggerated accounts of con- 
fusion and noise, and gave no credence to any of 
the good effects which happily resulted ; to them, 
therefore, it might be said, "Behold, ye de- 
rs, and wonder, and perish ! For I work a 



94 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

work in your days, a work which ye shall in no 
wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." 
Amidst all the fervor of the revival it was Mr. 
Bram well's constant cry, " Not unto us, Lord, 
not unto us, but unto thy name give glory \" 
The greatest fear he knew was lest any of the 
instruments whom the Lord had honored, by 
employing them in that cause, should forget their 
own littleness, and, beginning to think too highly 
of themselves, should neglect to ascribe all the 
praise to God, to whom it was entirely due. That 
sinful man should thus in the slightest degree 
encroach on the province of God, was an idea 
most revolting to his grateful spirit. He could 
not endure the bare contemplation of it; but, in 
all the fervency of holy zeal, he bore his decided 
testimony against such a presumptuous infringe- 
ment of the Divine rights, and denounced the 
man who could audaciously attempt to rob God 
of his glory. In this way he was the happy 
instrument of preserving many unwary and aspir- 
ing souls from being dashed against the rocks of 
spiritual pride. How many have we seen, who, 
on other occasions than this, instead of esteem- 
ing it an act of unprecedented condescension in 
God to employ them in executing any of the 
saving purposes of his grace, have reversed the 
case, and, fancying themselves to be persons of 
much consequence in the economy of salvation, 
have actually been brought to think that by their 
trivial deeds they could render the Lord of hosts 
essential service ! To the Messiah of God it 
appertains, and to him alone, to declare, " Mine 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 95 

arm brought salvation !" while, with all humility 
of soul, it becomes the redeemed of every degree 
to confess, respecting themselves and others, 
u Yf e g t; no i fae land in possession by our own 
sword, neither did our own arm save us j but thy 
right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy 
countenance ; because thou hadst a favor unto us/' 
He guarded with much jealousy against the 
rising of this proud feeling in himself; and he 
was equally anxious to hinder its prevalence in 
others. If he beheld it even in its budding, he 
was accustomed to exclaim against it, and to 
warn every man of its dangerous consequences. 
For he knew that such a spirit provoked most 
justly God's indignation and wrath, impeded the 
blessed work of salvation, destroyed all personal 
religion in the individuals by whom it was cher- 
ished, and brought on all the labors of a minister, 
"blasting, and mildew, and hail." Without 
doubt, it is comely and proper to rejoice when 
sinners are awakened and converted. Such 
happy occurrences must afford the highest grati- 
fication both to the minister whose labors have 
been honored with an issue so successful, and to 
all the faithful in Christ Jesus. For if there 
"be greater joy in heaven over one sinner that 
repenteth than over ninety and nine just persons 
that need no repentance," a similar expression 
of gladness on earth cannot be sinful. But one 
part of his employment who is "the accuser of 
the brethren" consists in an attempt to attack the 
unguarded human heart when it is elated with 
sacred pleasure, and to change this correct and 



96 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

heavenly feeling into a towering principle of 
arrogance. How needful, therefore, amidst the 
most sacred delight, to " watch and pray that we 
enter not into temptation I" We may rejoice, 
but it ought to be "with trembling," on account 
of the frailty of our nature. 

In all considerable revivals of religion, it has 
been the objection of worldly men and lukewarm 
Christians, that numbers "have fallen from their 
Christian steadfastness, and concerning faith have 
made shipwreck." This defection has been 
noticed in particular among youthful professors. 
But was there ever known a fruitful soil into 
which the enemy did not attempt to introduce 
noxious weeds? And he can accomplish this 
purpose with the greatest secrecy and the best 
effect, by mixing his tares with the wheat. ^Zei. 
the charge, when it is applied to revivals in the 
Methodist societies, is not so well founded as 
many persons imagine. 

For allow that in the heat of a revival a youth 
depraved in his manners is converted. Being 
made happy by the removal of all condemnation 
from his mind, in the generous ardor of pious 
feeling he wishes for all around him to possess 
the same blessings as those which he enjoys. To 
effect this, he begins to exhort the careless among 
his relations, companions, and neighbors, to escape 
everlasting punishment, by believing on the Lord 
Jesus. He becomes active in prayer-meetings 
and Sunday-schools, and in visiting sick people. 
His zeal, untempered by knowledge or expe- 
rience, prompts him soon to engage with all his 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMTVELL. 97 

heart in several public devotional exercises. His 
religion, losing a lively principle, does not permit 
him to indulge in a morbid stillness. Concede, 
likewise, that such a young person, " having no 
root in himself, sometimes dureth but for awhile/' 
Either his pride is hurt and his piety blasted, or, 
understanding little about the sufficiency of 
Divine grace and the stratagems of the Devil, he 
is readily enticed from his high tower by "that 
wicked one," and suffers his love to decline, and 
his exertions to cease. The previous ardency of 
this youth's zeal for the glory of God is the 
cause why his fall is a matter of the greatest 
notoriety, and fills the mouth of unbelievers with 
expressions of triumph. 

But let another youth, placid in his disposition 
and moral in his habits, unite himself with a 
sedate company of believing people, profess his 
faith in Christ, evince a change of heart by the 
fruits of a stricter life, and proceed in his Chris- 
tian course rejoicing. These good people, having 
none of the appearance of religious ardor about 
them, are able, by the sole force of their own still 
example, to keep their 3 7 oung convert in his 
proper place, that is, as a learner. But should 
he yield to his former worldly spirit, dislike to act 
from righteous motives, absent himself from many 
of the Divine ordinances, especially the sacrament 
of the Lord's Supper, and retain very little even 
of the form of godliness, yet, as he had never 
made himself conspicuous in religious matters, 
and still continues occasionally to associate with 
the people of Grod, his fall is scarcely perceptible 
9 



98 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

By some of his religious friends, the change in 
his heart is called "a degree of colder Reeling ;" 
and those who view it with pain have often suffi- 
cient liberality to impute it only to "a temporary 
lukewarmness." During all this time, his out- 
ward moral conduct is faultless ; and the men of 
the world, seeing scarcely any difference between 
the commencement, the carrying on, and the 
catastrophe of this work of grace, find in it no 
manner of reproach, and his fate excites no 
public animadversion. Yet his defection is as 
deep as that of the other, though the steps by 
which he descended are not so palpable and pre- 
cipitous. 

All persons, except those who oppose conjec- 
ture to experience, will perceive that this differ- 
ence is a correct one with regard to many of the 
individuals "who draw back to perdition," and 
that it applies as forcibly, in another respect, to 
whole communities. For it often happens, even 
in the Methodist Connection, that a zealous, lively 
people experience a great increase of members, 
while another society in the same circuit, and at 
only a short distance, remains stationary. Some 
of the members of the latter are usually foremost 
in censoriousness, and mark with a scornful 
finger how many new converts among their zeal- 
ous neighbors "have put their hands to the 
plough, and, by looking back, have rendered 
themselves unfit for the kingdom of God." Such 
an unhappy occurrence ought to excite within a 
pious breast emotions of a different description. 
But these jaundiced animadverters, who see all 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 99 

things through a perverting medium, commonly 
forget to take any account of those awakened at 
the same time, "who still retain their integrity, 
and are going on to perfection." They never 
consider, that if all the members of their own 
body have not "left their first love/' they in 
reality feel little of its animating power. They 
can calculate, with officious avidity, that the 
lively society has in twelve months lost more 
members than they have lost in twelve years; 
but they seldom venture to recollect that within 
the same number of months, the very people 
with whom they institute the comparison, have 
gained a greater number of hopeful members than 
their accusers have done in as many years. In a 
society, therefore, in which "the work of the 
Lord" remains in nearly a fixed state, the de- 
crease in the number of its members will, in 
general, be very trifling ; while in a neighboring 
society, though several may have "fallen from 
their steadfastness in Christ/' yet the increase 
of stable members is often numerous in a tenfold 
proportion. 

In these observations, the greatest allowance 
is made as to the numbers of those who fall 
away ; but on a strict scrutiny even into the 
smallest society in which a revival occurs, it will 
be generally discovered that Satan and his emis- 
saries have magnified the apostates into four 
times their actual number. All boasting on the 
part of discreet members and grave societies 
being thus effectually excluded, would it not be 
a more Christian method to lay aside many of 

LOFC 



J^O MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

their unjust prejudices, and "be willing for a 
season to rejoice in the light" which they might 
behold in others ? Would not such a course be a 
great personal benefit to themselves, and bring 
them into a train for " catching the sacred 
flame?" If they cannot thus submit them- 
selves, let them "be watchful and strengthen 
the things which remain, that are ready to die." 
The mind of man is too prone to substitute its 
own previous conceptions of the manner in which 
(rod ought to conduct his operations, for the 
method which he is pleased in his infinite wisdom 
actually to adopt. Naaman's spirit and address 
were perfectly natural when he said, " Behold I 
thought, he will surely come out to me. Are not 
Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better 
than all the waters of Israel ?" And the argu- 
ments of his servants were inspired by Heaven ; 
they said, "My father, if the prophet had bid 
thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have 
done it ?" Indeed, all God's plans are founded 
on the abasing of human pride, "that no flesh 
may glory in his presence." In the admirable 
process of his grace, "he hath chosen the foolish 
things of the world to confound the wise, and the 
weak things of the world to confound the things 
which are mighty." 

It would be wrong to close these reflections 
without adverting to the case of some "who kept 
not their first estate" in grace. The provisions 
for catechumens in the Methodist societies are 
probably the best which could be devised by 
human wisdom under the influence of Divine 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 101 

teaching. Class-meetings are real nurseries for 
all that is lovely and excellent in religion. But 
it sometimes happens, that they who are placed 
at the head of them are so occupied with other 
departments of the work of God, as to forget to 
feed the lambs of the flock. This is especially 
the case during a revival. They are like some 
eager fishermen, who, in their haste to obtain a 
fresh draught, neglect to secure those fishes which 
they had previously caught. Other class-leaders 
are competent to build up believers in their most 
holy faith ; but have not discernment enough to 
instruct recent converts in "the first principles 
of the doctrine of Christ/' without a knowledge 
of which all attempts to raise a Christian cha- 
racter must be fruitless. When a young Chris- 
tian falls into hands like these, he is required, at 
too early a period of his novitiate, to bear his 
part in social prayer, instead of being exhorted to 
"give attendance to reading/' And at the time 
when he ought "to be swift to hear and slow to 
speak," his opinion is often asked about Church 
matters or religious doctrines, which should only 
engage the attention of more advanced disciples. 
It is in this way that the Bible becomes neglected, 
ignorance is engendered, and pride fostered. The 
youth, raw and inexperienced as he is, appears 
quite conscious that he has a capacity for every 
thing, and that "he has more understanding than 
all his teachers." He begins, therefore, to slight 
pious instruction; forms rash judgments about 
"things indifferent," and is not backward in 
giving them utterance. In the meantime, some 
9* 



102 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

good people can see nothing wrong in all this, 
but consider it a proof of "an independent 
spirit !" How much more consistent would it 
be in every Christian to inculcate and encourage 
"that mind which was also in Christ Jesus," and 
to which all his followers have this special invita- 
tion, " Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; 
for I am meek and lowly in heart \ and ye shall 
find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, 
and my burden is light/' Such a yoke as this 
"it is good for a man to bear in his youth." 

Though these observations apply with much 
propriety to some young people who forsake the 
way of peace, yet in many instances they are no 
less true respecting elder persons, who find them- 
selves placed in similar circumstances, after their 
reception into the fold of Christ. However ad- 
vanced they may be in years, they are but "as 
new-born babes ;" and from the fixed nature of 
their former habits, are as liable as younger people 
to have their "minds corrupted from the simpli- 
city that is in Christ." It is not peculiar to any 
period of life for "the dog to turn to his own 
vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her 
wallowing in the mire." An injudicious course of 
instruction, and the baneful infection of froward 
examples, may cause aged persons to relapse as 
speedily as their juniors. With less "excuse for 
their sin," they can be more confident and dog- 
matical about many things that have no imme- 
diate reference to their salvation; and "having 
perverted their way," they are too apt "to forget 
the Lord their God." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 103 

Mr. Bramwell, therefore, never acted more in 
the character of "a wise master-builder/ ' than 
when he made careful provision for recent con- 
verts. By painful experience, he had known, in 
himself, the pernicious consequences which accrue 
from a want of early Christian tuition. After he 
had felt the first gracious visitation of the Holy 
Spirit, "no man cared for his soul/' He had 
"stumbled about on the dark mountains" till at 
length he was favored with "the communion of 
saints." He was therefore well qualified to 
appreciate the value of Christian society and 
pious advice; and adopted measures in every 
place for insuring these benefits to all who were 
admitted within the pale of the Christian Church. 
Directions were given to the most prudent and 
well-informed class-leaders, to take special charge 
of all who evinced a concern for their salvation. 
They were advised to encourage the timid, and, 
by all gentle methods, to prevent those who were 
only "girding on their harness, from boasting 
themselves as they that were putting it off." It 
was also his practice to meet the converts of each 
sex separately, to give them appropriate counsel 
respecting their conduct, point out proper books 
for their perusal, and to recommend, above all, 
the constant reading of the Scriptures, and a 
strict attention to personal religion and private 
devotion. 

When he perceived them observant of these 
precepts, he invited their attention to the doc- 
trinal works of Wesley and Fletcher. He dis- 
liked that wavering humor in religious opinions 



104 MEMOIR Cl! 1 W. BRAMWELL. 

which some persons have thought fit to dignify 
with the high-sounding title of liberality. Know- 
ing that superficial attainments in practical piety 
are too often caused by unsettled notions about 
religious truth, he introduced to their notice the 
immortal productions of those two great men, as 
a complete treasury of needful " erudition for a 
Christian inan." Considering that system of 
doctrines to be in perfect agreement with the 
Scriptures of truth, and admirably adapted to the 
wants of man, he was induced to dilate on their 
excellence at eVery fit opportunity. In this way, 
he labored not only to gain converts, but to form 
Christians and establish believers. 

But after all his judicious precautions and 
laudable anxiety, he was sometimes called to 
mourn over miserable backsliders. It would have 
been most wonderful if, in this respect, "the 
disciple had been above Christ, his Master," who 
had one Judas in his select company. Mr. 
Bramwell was too well acquainted with the con- 
stitution of human nature to be amazed at these 
unhappy occurrences, "as though some strange 
thing had happened unto him." His compassion 
was on such occasions powerfully excited, and he 
earnestly longed to "reclaim and bring these 
wanderers back." In this department of the 
work of God he was uncommonly successful. 
Several who "did once run well," heard this 
"son of consolation," and, "in the strength of 
grace," were induced again to commence their 
Christian career. His addresses, full of affection, 
were instrumental in their restoration to the favor 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 105 

of God, which they had forfeited. On this 
account his memory will long be cherished by 
many, who, on this topic, "had heard him 
gladly," and who now adorn their Christian pro- 
fession by blameless lives, and a holy conversa- 
tion. He lived to see numbers of returning 
prodigals, and, in imitation of the paternal com- 
passion of the God of heaven, he ran to meet 
them, gave them an affectionate welcome, and 
called on all around to the expression of gladness, 
because " those who had been dead were alive 
again; those who had been lost were found." 



106 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Mr. Bramwell is stationed in the Sheffield Circuit — A great revival 
in that town — His diligence in the work of the ministry — His 
acquirements, and the manner in which they were applied — Re- 
flections on the improvement of time — Anecdotes — Letters. 

The Conference in 1795 directed Mr. Bram- 
well to labor in the Sheffield Circuit. He was 
quite unknown to the friends in that town. The 
reason of this appointment is explained in the 
following communication by Mr. Henry Longdeh : 

" Early in the year 1794, our reverend father 
in the gospel, Mr. A. Mather, paid a pastoral 
visit to Sheffield. As he had been twice stationed 
in this circuit, he knew many pious individuals 
there, and felt for them an unceasing affection. 
He had recently visited several circuits in the 
north of England, where there was a revival of 
religion and a great increase in the societies : he 
had there caught the holy flame, and in every 
place endeavored with renewed ardor to spread its 
influence.* In addressing the members of the 
Sheffield society, he told them 'that in all those 
places where the Lord had lately poured out his 
Spirit, it was in answer to earnest prayer. The 

* See Mr. Mather's interesting account of the re- 
vival of religion at Hull, in the London Methodist 
Magazine, vol. xvii. p. 603. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 107 

preachers everywhere, after the usual services, 
held prayer-meetings : all who could conveniently 
remain, united to implore a general blessing ; and 
the Lord, who had inspired the desire, granted 
their requests; it was done according to their 
faith.' During this visit they had many refresh- 
ing seasons together. 

" After his departure, Mr. Moon and Mr. 
Cooper continued to unite, in the same manner, 
with the people in public prayer. The good 
seed sown by Mr. Mather soon appeared. On 
the day of the following midsummer love-feast, a 
shower of reviving, saving, and sanctifying grace 
descended, and the people were overwhelmed 
with its influence. A particular account of this 
great work is found in the London Methodist 
Magazine, vol. xviii. page 415, written by Mr. 
Moon. 

" In August, 1794, the Conference appointed 
Mr. Blagburn as Mr. Cooper's successor, and in 
the following year three hundred and eighty souls 
were added to the Church. These two blessed 
men were well calculated by their zeal to promote, 
and by their wisdom to defend, the extraordinary 
work of the Spirit. The Sheffield people were 
anxious respecting a successor ; and as the Con- 
ference of 1795 approached, Mr. Mather was 
requested to recommend, and if possible to pro- 
cure, <a man after God's own heart/ one who 
had witnessed a similar effusion of the Holy 
Spirit. Mr. Bramwell was sent, an entire stran- 
ger to the people, in answer to prayer ; and was 
everywhere received as an angel of God. The 



108 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

ground was prepared by his excellent predeces- 
sors 'to receive the good seed' in some places, 
and in others ' the fields were already white unto 
the harvest. 7 

"The people soon perceived Mr. Bramwell 
was a man come out from God ; his words were 
accompanied with a Divine authority and a gra- 
cious unction. In several houses where he lodged, 
while in the country, his prayers and interces- 
sions were often heard many times during the 
night. He uniformly left his bed at four in the 
morning to enter upon the duties of the day ; 
every moment of which Was spent in union with 
God, and in devotedness to the salvation of the 
people. 

" Plenteously anointed with holy oil, he pro- 
claimed the jubilee of the gospel, the acceptable 
year of the Lord, the day of deliverance to all 
that believe. As his whole soul was employed in 
this work of preaching, so he required of his 
hearers their silent, fixed attention. Children 
might not disturb ; the heart might not slumber, 
if observed ; nor might the eye of an individual 
wander. When these important preliminaries of 
usefulness were secured, he directed the mind to 
wait only upon God as the great fountain of bless- 
ings, and to look to Christ as the only object of 
faith, ' that with meekness they might receive the 
ingrafted word, which is able to save the soul/ 

" Everywhere he preached ' Christ as our wis- 
dom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemp- 
tion/ and faith as the great duty enjoined in the 
gospel. He showed distinctly the proper subjects 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 109 

of saving faith, and that all such, and such only, 
as, in obedience to the command of God, attempt 
to believe, are enabled also to believe and receive 
instantly the answer of faith, the salvation of the 
soul ; that salvation is wrought by the grace of 
God, through the exercise of faith; and that 
though salvation has unlimited degrees, it has 
two leading characters, viz., justification and 
sanctification : that as we cannot be justified 
from the guilt of past offences but by faith, so we 
are sanctified throughout by the exercise of the 
same faith : that the accomplishment of the pro- 
mises by faith is always instantaneous ; and that 
such a faith in powerful operation is to be distin- 
guished from that which is a gracious habit of 
the mind; a faith wherein we stand, and walk, 
and overcome the world. 

" These doctrines Mr. Bramwell urged in 
almost every sermon ; yet he did not exalt them 
and depreciate others. For as Divine truth 
sweetly harmonizes when seen comprehensively, 
so he published every doctrine of the gospel, 
bringing 'out of the treasury things new and old/ 
To say that he was popular everywhere, is saying 
very little. While he was engaged in the pulpit, 
sinners saw their natural face as in a glass, and 
were deeply affected with a sight of their sinful 
deformity : professors beheld the awful difference 
between the form of godliness and the power: 
and the attention of saints was turned upon them- 
selves as connected with their holy calling. The 
humble, the broken-hearted, the thirsty for God, 
were encouraged now to believe in Christ as a 
10 



110 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

present and all-sufficient Saviour. 'The hand 
of the Lord was with his servant, and many be- 
lieved and turned to the Lord/ Under his 
awakening appeals untold numbers have trem- 
bled; the veil of ignorance and the mask of 
hypocrisy were torn away, when the real cha- 
racters were shown in the light of the gospel. 
Under his persuasive ministry many a Lydia's 
heart was opened, many a bowed spirit trans- 
ported, and * shared in the gladness of all that 
believe/ 

"In promoting the work of the Lord, Mr. 
Bramwell employed the talents of the local 
preachers, leaders, and other individuals, in 
prayer; and they became important helpers to 
him in every place. The embers of love were 
kindled all around; and when he revisited the 
societies, he found them ' striving together for 
the furtherance of the gospel/ Opposition was 
broken down, lukewarmness was destroyed, a 
holy union was maintained, and the work of God 
in the town and country broke out in a flame of 
life, and power, and zeal. Itinerant and local 
preachers, with others, have come more than 
fifty miles in search of the blessing of a clean 
heart; and joining with him in the holy violence 
of prayer, have returned, glorifying God for the 
wonders of his saving power. Wherever he 
went, visible signs and wonders were wrought in 
the name of Christ; and in the course of the 
first year, twelve hundred and fifty members 
were added to the society ! He and his fellow- 
laborers ceased not to remind the class-leaders of 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. Ill 

their responsibility in feeding and guiding the 
< Church of God which he had purchased with 
his own blood/ and that they ought to make up 
the lack of the preachers' service toward all those 
who were but newly found in Christ. 

"As an overseer of souls, he frequently visited 
eight or ten families in the early part of the day. 
These visits were short and spiritual. If pos- 
sible, he would have the whole family collected, 
and having ascertained the religious state of them 
all, he would pray for each by name, and implore 
blessings suited to their respective necessities. 
We have often felt on these occasions the influ- 
ence of his affectionate solicitude, his penetrating 
look, and his pointed inquiries; and believe it 
was in vain for the formalist, the backslider, and 
the hypocrite, to elude detection by him. The 
rich and the poor were admonished ; growing evils 
in families destroyed in the bud ; parents, child- 
ren, and servants taught their proper duty ; and 
all were constrained to assert, respecting our 
reverend friend, ' in labors he was more abundant/ 

" When a minister so fully discharges his pas- 
toral office among a numerous people, he is in 
danger of neglecting the diligent study of the 
Scriptures, and of making a superficial prepara- 
tion for the pulpit. Mr. Bramwell, however, 
was not content to read the inspired volume in 
his vernacular tongue ; but he diligently studied 
it in the language in which it was written. He 
manifested no laxness, but evinced that every 
discourse was the result of much labor. We 
know that he weighed human opinions contained 



112 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

in commentaries; but he sought for the Divine 
teaching in all things. And, without contro- 
versy, he was an able workman who needed not 
to be ashamed. The style of his composition was 
peculiarly his own. We do not know that he 
had any model set before him. His sentences 
were generally short and terse, containing much 
point, calculated to convey instruction and con- 
viction directly to the mind. Sometimes there 
was a natural and beautiful abruptness elicited 
from the workings of his soul, which was bur- 
dened with the sacred message from Glod to the 
people. This has operated as a two-edged sword, 
penetrating to the centre, and dividing the joints 
and marrow. He was acquainted with the work- 
ings of the heart and the devices of Satan, and 
studied mankind in man as well as in books, wit- 
nessing in society all its variety of circumstances 
and fluctuations. This only can account for the 
adaptation of his sermons to every congregation, 
and every public or calamitous event; for he 
1 rightly divided the word of truth, and gave to 
each a portion in season/ 

" Mr. Bramwell delighted to press the people 
to believe, but he did not omit to inculcate the 
weighty matters of the law. He recommended a 
punctual attendance upon the public means of 
grace, but he would not have any duty neglected 
at home. He insisted upon the necessity of pri- 
vate prayer, but he would not infringe upon the 
work of searching the Scriptures. He considered 
the religion of Christ as an empty name when 
it is destitute of love; that perfect, powerful, 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 113 

and operative principle, which leads to acts of 
universal good - will to man. He proclaimed, 
1 Owe no man any thing but love.' 

" When we inquire respecting the cause of the 
almost unparalleled fruits of his labors, we find 
that truth must be clearly perceived before it can 
be represented with clearness to others ; that it 
must be felt in the heart of the speaker, before it 
can impress the heart and arouse the conscience 
of the hearer. And thus it was : Mr. Bramwell 
was not only earnest externally, but he was 
inwardly and powerfully impressed with the 
importance of rightly explaining the doctrines 
and enforcing the precepts of Christ to dying, 
perishing men, and labored to be ' clear of the 
blood of all men.' 

" Mr. Bramwell was himself the example of 
all he recommended. The more intimately his 
private habits of life were known, the more he 
was esteemed and venerated. Those who were 
thus favored, breathed, in his society, a heavenly 
atmosphere, and acknowledged a peculiar influ- 
ence to accompany all his conversation. They 
admired the correctness of his principles of action, 
which were conformed to the precepts of the 
gospel: they saw that 'in simplicity and godly 
sincerity, not with fleshy wisdom, but by the 
grace of God, he had his conversation in the 
world, and more abundantly toward them/ 

"He saw the possibility, that, ' after having 
preached to others, himself might become a 
castaway/ By stated fasting, by constant watch- 
10* 



114 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

fulness, by habitual temperance, in all things, he 
kept the body in subjection, and thereby increased 
his spirituality and power. 

" In nothing did he approach more nearly to 
an imitation of our Lord, than in his benevolence. 
It cannot be thought singular that he was cour- 
teous, and pitiful, and kind ; for all the ministers 
of the gospel ought to exemplify these virtues. 
But he relieved the necessities of others, by mak- 
ing frequent sacrifices of his own personal com- 
fort. We have known him give his only top-coat 
in severe weather to one who had not a coat; 
nor would he spare the garments of his beloved 
wife for the relief of persons in extreme distress. 
On another occasion, while visiting a sick man, 
who was in extreme want, and lying in bed with- 
out a shirt, Mr. Bramwell retired into a private 
room, took off his own shirt, and gave it to the 
poor man. He was indeed a good Samaritan : he 
considered every suffering child of Adam as his 
brother or his sister, as flesh of his flesh, and bone 
of his bone, whom Christ had loved unto death ; 
and therefore having a claim for his utmost 
efficient help. When there was any doubt in 
the case of applicants, he would ascertain the 
reality and extent of suffering by personal inves- 
tigation ; and he has administered to their wants, 
property, food, or medicine, with his counsel, 
sympathy, and prayers. Often has he been 'help 
in need/ a ministering angel of mercy both to 
the afflicted body, the broken spirit, and the de- 
spairing mind. When, therefore, he enforced 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 115 

the most difficult and least palatable duties of 
religion, the people did not inwardly respond, 
1 Physician, heal thyself.' 

" 'Thus by the space of three years he ceased 
not to warn every one, night and day, with tears, 
and to teach every man, that he might present 
every man perfect before God.' " 

Another valuable correspondent gives the sub- 
joined account of those glorious days ! 

" When Mr. Bramwell was announced as the 
preacher appointed for Sheffield, there was a 
degree of expectation excited in the society, that 
the Lord would come and revive the work of 
Divine grace by his instrumentality. Mrs. Cooper 
had been very useful in the conversion of many 
individuals, and had provoked a spirit of prayer 
and exertion that had been blessed of God. Of 
the number of those that had been brought to 
God, was Mr. Edward Miller, and a few others, 
who seemed prepared to enter into a revival, and 
to second it with all their powers. Mr. Bram- 
well was no sooner heard than the genuine power 
was experienced. A kind of electric sensation 
was felt in the whole society. Present effects 
were looked for, and present effects were received. 
The clearness of justification and sanctification 
were decidedly and constantly preached. A 
present enjoyment of both of them was so 
ardently pressed, so unceasingly offered by faith, 
and faith alone, to be received, felt, and enjoyed 
now, that the whole circuit seemed soon to catch 
the flame. Seventeen or eighteen hundred per- 
sons, in the two years, were joined to the society. 



116 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

Entire sanctification was pressed upon believers 
as their undoubted right. They were constantly 
pressed into the enjoyment of it, and numbers 
professed to enter into the possession of that state, 
and brought forth all its precious fruit. 

" From various parts of England people arrived 
to judge of the truth of this work. Many were 
strongly opposed to the mode in which it was 
carried on, and violently objected to it; but they 
were so overcome by the spirit of the laborers 
and the effect of the revival, that they repeatedly 
acknowledged their full conviction of its being 
a genuine and undoubted work of the Spirit of 
God. 

" Mr. Bramwell's labors were abundant. Pos- 
sessed of a strong body and a powerful voice, he 
never seemed to be exhausted ; but unwearied in 
his work, he gave consistency and stability to the 
whole. 

"At length a division took place in the society, 
and l separated very friends.' Spirits the most 
united no longer associated together; and indi- 
viduals who had formerly been as brethren, viewed 
the acts of each other with aversion. 

" How must the lovers of Zion lament, that in 
every revival of God's work, there are certain 
evils intermixed, that seem to say, ' Thus far 
shall you go, and no farther I' Well ! the time 
will come, when godliness in its power will pre- 
vail, when Jew and Gentile will unite, when the 
omnipotence of Jesus will win or blast all his 
enemies, when he shall establish his kingdom, 
give victory to his saints, and reign over all for 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 117 

ever and for ever ! 'Amen ! Amen ! So come, 
Lord Jesus !' is the hope and cry of every true 
believer. 

u One of the most constant effects of Mr. 
Braniwell's residence in any place was 'the 
spirit of prayer/ Such a general spirit of zealous 
prayer as he encouraged, was never experienced 
before in Methodism. Strong desires for the 
spread of the Redeemer's kingdom, for the de- 
struction of sin, for the advancement of holiness, 
and for the glory of the latter days, were felt and 
breathed out by numbers. They were answered 
by the Spirit of God, diffusing his own blessing 
and sealing the truth by his own power, so that 
the most sanguine hopes were entertained by the 
faithful, that great and glorious consequences 
would be produced, and would extend through 
the Christian and heathen world. If these 
effects have not been so generally felt and so 
widely spread as some expected, yet blessed have 
been the consequences : justification and sanctifi- 
cation by faith only, have been preached and 
experienced to be the truth of God by the Spirit's 
divine application, 'sealing the believer to the 
day of redemption/ and witnessing with his own 
divine testimony to the truth. 

" Mr. Bramwell preached a present and a full 
salvation through faith in the Redeemer's blood; 
aud thousands will have to praise God in eternity 
that ever they heard from his lips the sound of 
such a gospel. On the entire destruction of sin 
and the complete renewal of the heart in holi- 
ness, he preached decidedly : this was his con- 



118 MEMOIR OE W. BRAMWELL. 

stant, his favorite theme. To be cleansed from 
all sin, to be perfected in love, was the grand 
object of his preaching, and the constant experi- 
ence of his heart. Never did he preach with 
more energy, never did a greater Divine nnction 
attend his word, than when he pressed the Chris- 
tian, the Methodist doctrine, of entire sanctifica- 
tion from all sin, the utter destruction of all 
inbred evil, and the restoration of the whole soul 
to the image of God ! In this Mr. Bramwell 
was faithful to God and to the Scriptures, and 
showed all good fidelity to the souls over whom 
he watched, and whom he wished to present per- 
fect before God, and cleansed from all unright- 
eousness. The author of this account knew that 
Mr. Bramwell held this sentiment and felt this 
experience for twenty-three years before he died ; 
and he believes that he was never conscious of 
enjoying it more sensibly, and never expressed 
himself on this subject more clearly, than a few 
days before he expired. 

"A select band that met early in the morning, 
once a week, consisting of Messrs. Longden, 
Miller, Wilkinson, Levick, and the itinerant 
preachers, was made an uncommon blessing. In 
that meeting the public and private conduct of 
every individual passed through a fiery ordeal. 
Their holiness in private, and their spirit and 
carriage in public, were severely and faithfully 
scrutinized. They were guarded equally against 
intemperate, unchristian zeal, and against luke- 
warm formality. Their whole conduct under- 
went a severe examination, while they were 



MEMOIR OF TV. BRAMWELL. 119 

excited to the most zealous exertion, and cau- 
tioned against any excess which could not be 
warranted by the word of God. 

" The attempts of the enemy to defile the 
purity of the work, by bringing forward improper 
characters, mixing false fire with the true flame, 
or by disparaging the work in any other way, 
were most assiduously prevented. His stratagems 
were perceived, and his designs defeated. Never, 
perhaps, was there a work that could better with- 
stand the opposition of the wicked, or calm the 
apprehensive fears of the faithful, than the 
revival at Sheffield. If its fruits were not spread 
through the world, we can only say the time is 
not yet come when righteousness shall fill the 
globe, and the knowledge of the Lord shall cover 
the whole earth. But these lively specimens 
animate the true believer; they give a degree of 
assurance to his hopes ; they afford a ground of 
dependence on the truth of Almighty God; and 
virtually announce, that 'the kingdoms of this 
world shall become the kingdoms of Christ,' and 
that he shall for ever reign with his saints." 

In the preceding extract, the reader will have 
noticed the slight allusion made to Mr. Kilham's 
secession from the parent connection. Mr. 
Bramwell's feelings on that occasion have been 
variously represented. But the best mode of 
forming a judgment of a man, is to hear how he 
unbosoms himself to his intimate friends. On 
this subject Mr. Bramwell's views will be cor- 
rectly ascertained by his expressions at the close 
of the following letter. Unlike many warm souls 



120 MEMOIR Or W. BRAMWELL. 

at that period, "he lived above the division, and 
waited the event in peace/' As a Christian 
minister, he accounted it indecorous in him to 
" speak evil of any man." This letter, being 
the first of the series which is intended to be 
inserted in this work, is printed according to Mr. 
Bramweirs own method of punctuation. It will 
be perceived that he delighted in the frequent 
use of the dash ; and employed it on all occasions. 

LETTER I. 

TO DOCTOR. TATT. 

Sheffield, November 1st, 1797. 
" My Dear Brother : — I should have writ- 
ten to you immediately, but expected Messrs. 
Miller and Wilkinson would have come to see 
you, as I had a promise from them. They are 
prevented at present by business. I rejoice in 
your union and prosperity. I bless the Lord for 
his goodness to the little flock. He cares for 
you — and will help you. — I trust your own soul 
prospers more and more. — There is a work for 
every day. — The Lord waits to impart more of 
his love, and will give more to the hungry. — 
my brother Taft ! give yourself to him in much 
prayer and faith, keep yourself as much as pos- 
sible composed — let not little things dissipate 
your thoughts. — Be fixed in G-od. The world 
will tempt and seek to draw you; — but your 
work is for G-od — for heaven — for glory. — run 
the race ! fight the battle ! conquer through the 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 121 

blood! I believe you will receive the crown. 
If you are not called to preach — or exhort — or 
teach, you are called to live — to pray — to walk 
with God. — Fear not ! — salvation will come ! — 
Wait for all he has to give : 

* Wait to prove his utmost will, 
And have your heaven about you still.' 

"I am seeking the Lord every day. I am 
sure I grow in grace. — This is my labor — to see 
God — and to love him. — My union is stronger 
than when I was with you. — I have left all in his 
hands. — I have no care but to please him. — \ I 
am dead — and my life is hid with Christ in God/ 
— I am more dependent than ever, — see myself 
more and more — and can only say, i Yet not I, 
but Christ liveth in me/ — the mind — the 
sweet mind of Christ ! May I follow the Lord 
every moment ! — I see the work deepen among 
his people ; and for some weeks have seen souls 
saved nearly every day, less or more. 

" I live above the division — and wait the event 
in peace. The will of God be done — not mine ! 
When all are humbled — we, I trust, shall shake 
hands — and all give glory to God. I feel much 
compassion — my bowels yearn for all men — and 
I can speak evil of none. 

" I am your affectionate brother in Christ, 
" Wm. Bramwell." 

These are the expressions of a mind filled with 
charity, and desirous of peace. They display 
Mr. Bramwell's amiable character to advantage. 
11 



122 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

He "felt much compassion/' and his " bowels 
yearned for all men," even for those who had 
separated from communion with him. Some of 
his more zealous friends, who manifested much 
displeasure on this occasion, expected him to be 
as warm as themselves. But he remembered 
that "the servant of the Lord must not strive, 
but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 
in meekness instructing those that oppose them- 
selves; if God peradventure will give them re- 
pentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and 
that they may recover themselves out of the snare 
of the Devil." 

Mr. Bramwell's zeal for the Lord of hosts, his 
.utter indifference to mere secular concerns, and 
his well-tried prudence, engaged the affections 
of the people, and caused the Conference of 1797 
to honor him by a third year's appointment. His 
colleagues were Mr. James Wood and Mr. Pipe, 
men who enjoyed his confidence, and with whom 
he became very closely united. Under their 
skilful administration the society was kept in a 
state of comparative tranquillity, amidst much 
outward perplexity and many incentives to dis- 
quietude. The work of conversion and sanctifi- 
cation did not cease ; but the walls of Jerusalem 
continued to be built, even in those troublous 
times. 

Mr. George Smith was that year stationed at 
Ashby de la Zouch, and had heard wonderful 
things about the revival at Sheffield. Having 
been long in search of the blessing of sanctifica- 
tion ; he resolved to go to the place where it was 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 123 

reported many others had received it. He ac- 
cordingly set out for Sheffield in company with 
Messrs. Crawson, Shakespeare, and Keecher. 
They arrived early on Saturday, and repaired 
in the evening to the band-meeting, in Norfolk 
Street Chapel. Messrs. Bramwell, Pipe, Long- 
den, and Miller, were present; and while they 
and other able witnesses gave a clear and scrip- 
tural account of the manner in which they re- 
ceived the gift of sanctification, the strangers 
(Mr. George Smith and his friends) were much 
affected. Mr. Miller perceived it ; and going up 
to Mr. Smith, inquired who he was. When he 
had been told, he said, " Here is a travelling 
preacher, who is come to Sheffield, and has 
brought three of his friends with him, above 
seventy miles, for the purpose of receiving a 
'clean heart/ " He exhorted all the faithful to 
lift up their hearts in behalf of these earnest and 
sincere seekers. They began to pray for them; 
when Mr. Smith was so overwhelmed with the 
power of the Highest, as instantly to " enter into 
the sanctifying rest, which remains for the people 
of God." He then adopted the advice which our 
Lord gave on a different occasion to Peter, u And 
thou, when thou art converted, strengthen thy 
brethren." He united in prayer for those whom 
he had brought with him ; and while in the act 
of entreating "the very God of peace to sanctify 
them wholly," and that their whole spirit, and 
soul, and body, might be preserved blameless 
unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the 
Lord spake the word, and they were made par- 



124 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

takers of the blessing. " Being cleansed from 
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, they were 
enabled to perfect holiness in the fear of God." 
On returning homeward, " their hearts burned 
within them while they talked" of this great sal- 
vation. Two of them (Messrs. Shakespeare and 
Crawson) died in the following year, enjoying 
all the glorious fruits of this sanctification. The 
other two are yet living, "and stand fast in the 
same liberty wherewith Christ had made them 
free." 

Mr. Parker, of Woodhouse Grove, makes the 
following remarks on Mr. Bramwell's character 
and conduct : 

"My acquaintance with Mr. Bramwell was 
occasioned by my removal, about May, 1798, to 
Sheffield, where he had then been above two 
years stationed. At that time there was a re- 
markable revival, of the extent of which some 
judgment may be formed when it is observed, 
that at a single love-feast about one hundred per- 
sons were convinced of the necessity of l working 
out their own salvation with fear and trembling/ 
During the continuance of this extraordinary 
enlargement of the work of grace, Mr. Bramwell's 
instrumentality was so singularly blessed of Him 
whose peculiar province it is to give the increase, 
that I cannot deem it irrelevant to enlarge on a 
topic that proved to be highly interesting and 
profitable to thousands, and in which Mr. Bram- 
well himself was eminently concerned. In addi- 
tion to many others, among whom are two per- 
sons since called to the itinerant ministry, I was 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 125 

myself an eye and ear- witness of those glorious 
seasons which will remain deeply imprinted on 
my recollection to the latest period of my exist- 
ence. We might on this subject truly say, \ That 
which we have heard, which we have seen with 
our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our 
hands have handled, declare we unto you/ Cer- 
tainly if ever I knew or experienced pentecostal 
seasons, those gracious and abundant manifesta- 
tions of the Spirit which no language can describe, 
it was at this time, when, if not thousands, at least 
hundreds were added to the Church; many of 
them, I doubt not, such as shall be eternally 
saved. The arrows of conviction fastened on 
many : conscience did its office : the sword of the 
Spirit pierced ' between the joints and the har- 
ness :' Gallios became serious; and before the 
presence of Jehovah the stout-hearted bowed the 
stubborn knee, and rocks of impenitence flowed 
into streams of penitential sorrow. 

"The angels of God, we are informed, rejoice 
over one sinner that repenteth ; but here they 
had to rejoice over hundreds. And they were 
assuredly there, rejoicing in our midst. Many 
beside myself will never forget the day when that 
hymn was sung at Garden Street Chapel which 
begins with 

Angels now are hovering round us : 

Unperceived, they mix the throng,' etc. 

For if ever I was conscious, as far as a human' 
spirit can be, of the presence of supernatural 
powers, that was the time. Many felt and pos- 

ii* 



126 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

sessed unutterable things. It seemed that there 
was but a thin veil between us and the invisible 
world, and that Satan, for a season, was bound in 
chains, and the Church militant admitted into 
the presence-chamber of the Majesty on high. 
The strongholds of Satan fell, like Dagon before 
the ark. Many were pressing through the strait 
gate into the kingdom which is 'righteousness, 
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.' And it was 
as though angels themselves attended to write 
the names of believers in the Lamb's book of life. 
But whether angels were there or not, of one 
thing I am persuaded, that heaven was there ; for 

' My Jesus to know, 
And feel his blood flow, 
'Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below.' 

" How often was the large floor of the Norfolk 
Street Chapel to be seen clustered over with little 
groups around a wrestling Jacob ! and when he 
halted a little on his thigh, how ready were many 
to administer the word of consolation, how ready 
to join in prayer that shook the pillars of hell, 
and opened the gates of heaven ! 

" That Mr. Brain well was in an eminent degree 
a man of prayer, I have been frequently assured 
by my own personal observation. Seldom have I 
called upon him but it was easy to perceive, 
from the devotion which he breathed, and the 
heavenly-mindedness which marked his manner 
and conversation, that ' he had been with Jesus/ 

"It has been my lot to mark Mr. Bramwell's 
very exemplary conduct in the social circle. And 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 127 

in this respect, I must affirm that I never met 
with his equal. His conversation was eminently 
such as tended to ; minister grace to his hearers.' 
It was his aim, in company, to direct his conver- 
sation and that of his friends to one point, and 
that was a present and a full salvation. Through- 
out the whole, he maintained the most jealous 
and vigilant eye lest the discourse should in the 
least diverge toward topics not equally definite 
and important. Nor was he contented with this : 
it was not long before this man of God, and the 
company with whom he was engaged, fell on 
their knees and wrestled in prayer, till 

' The opening heavens around them shone 
With beams of sacred bliss.' 

"One particular instance of this I will here 
relate : In consequence of being at the London 
Conference in 1804, I frequently met with Mr. 
13 ram well. On one occasion, he desired me to 
meet him in the afternoon, at a friend's house in 
the city. On entering the house, the voice of 
devotion saluted my ear. Mr. Bramwell and the 
rest of his friends engaged successively in fervent 
social prayer. At tea, he ruled the conversation, 
so that not a sentence concerning politics, the 
common topics of the day, the foibles of the 
neighborhood, or any indifferent subject, was per- 
mitted to transpire. The attention of the com- 
pany was directed exclusively to the great concerns 
of their present and eternal salvation. It was 
not long before a person present advanced some- 
thins; irrelevant to the single aim which this man 



128 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

of God held so tenaciously in view ; but he sup- 
pressed it immediately by exclaiming, ' Now wo 
are wandering from the point again !' After con- 
versation on the best subjects had continued for 
some time, the company again joined in fervent 
prayer until the preaching hour arrived, and im- 
portunately pleaded for the realization of the 
great blessings which had occupied their attention. 
"I am particular about the mention of this 
trait in Mr. Bramwell, because, in common with 
many who profess the influence of the fear and 
love of God, I have experienced great difficulty 
in ordering a conversation aright, so that each 
person might be enabled to say, at the close of 
an interview, that he had imbibed a greater aver- 
sion to sin, and a more ardent thirst after holi- 
ness. When this is not the result, have we not 
reason to fear that either we, or the persons with 
whom we have conversed, are in some degree 
fallen from our first love, from the life, the power, 
and the pleasures of godliness ? It is truly 
lamentable to notice the great degeneracy that 
prevails in the conversation of those who are only 
nominally religious in the present day. Some 
are content to while away every golden hour with 
subjects of a mere worldly nature. Some have 
outridden every profitable purpose to which the 
legitimate use of anecdotes can be applied, and 
haul in a number of tales of a facetious or ludi- 
crous nature, the only end of which is to excite 
merriment and levity. These are far worse than 
the 'old wives' fables' against which St. Paul 
warns Timothy. But, says Cowper, 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 129 

1 'Tis pitiful to court a grin, 
When you should woo a soul.' 

" Those who go about to destroy the souls of 
others and their own, by their rage for telling 
anecdotes, do not generally let the bare recital 
suffice. To secure their pitiful and ignoble end, 
and to give effect to their stories, they do not 
hesitate to give what is called <a little additional 
coloring f and in this way both truth and modesty 
are too often sacrificed. The politeness of the 
hearer obliges him to digest the lies and indelica- 
cies at which his sober judgment recoils ; l while 
demons laugh unseen, at fools that ape the faults 
of human kind/ In the hearing of such persons 
a serious subject can scarcely be mentioned, but 
with impertinent levity they endeavor to turn it 
into ridicule. This the world calls 'wit;' and 
the miserable buffoon who utters it passes for 'an 
agreeable companion/ But does not such an un- 
happy qualification prove him to be one of the 
agents of the nether region, a bird of the wayside 
to pluck up the tender seed out of the hearts of 
the sincere and simple, and a tool of Satan to 
efface every good impression ? 

" Christianity, be it observed, does not exclude 
cheerfulness. Christian cheerfulness consists in 
that serene and tranquil peace, that hope bloom- 
ing full of immortality, that sacred joy in the 
Holy Ghost, which 

1 Lays the rough paths of peevish nature even, 
And opens in each breast a little heaven.' 

" I may be censured for this long digression 



130 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

from the history of Mr. Bramwell. But it ap- 
pears to me, that the most advantageous purpose 
achieved by the biographic page, is that of point- 
ing out in what respects the works of good men 
may be said to follow them with profit to sur- 
vivors. Perhaps one of the most lively and 
impressive comments that we can possibly receive 
from man on that prescriptive code, the Bible, is 
the illustration of its doctrines, the fulfilment of 
its promises, and the exemplification of its obli- 
gations, as displayed either in the living cha- 
racters, or by the biographic record. Considered 
in this light, my digression may, I think, be jus- 
tified. 

" I shall beg leave here to mention a circum- 
stance which occurred in Sheffield, and which is 
consistent with this feature in Mr. Bramwell'a 
character. In consequence of certain persons in 
the principal street exhibiting at their shop win- 
dows prints and caricatures, many of which were 
of a ludicrous or an indelicate description, Mr. 
Bramwell warned his congregations of the evil 
and impropriety of allowing the mind to be 
diverted or corrupted by imagery of this kind. 
He blamed serious persons for stopping a moment 
to view such prints ; and told them, that when 
he found a print of this sort hung up in a friend's 
house, he did not forget to give him a suitable 
reproof by turning the front of it to the wall.* 



* I cannot omit to relate a custom which I have ever 
admired in the late Bible Christian, the Rev. Mr. 
Rutherford. The daughters of that pious minister had 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 131 

" The life and zeal which shone in Mr. Bram- 
well, kept him at the utmost distance from for- 
mality. Instead of being content during Divine 
service with the ordinary routine of singing and 
praying once before and once after the sermon, 
after having prayed at the close of preaching, he 
usually called on two or three persons to unite 
with him in supplication. At other times, while 
he was yet on his knees and in the midst of his 
prayer, he would break forth into singing, in 
which he was immediately joined by the congre- 
gation. To me it appeared singularly solemn to 
see a whole congregation and their preacher sing- 
ing in that suppliant posture. By such methods 
as these, the resolutions and impressions pro- 
duced by the sermon were rendered, in many 
cases, much more effectual. 

" From these several circumstances, therefore, 
we cannot wonder that it pleased the great Head 

from time to time wrought in needlework a variety of 
very important and apposite texts of Scripture, illus- 
trative of its leading doctrines. Except two or three 
portraits of pious men, these were the only pictures 
that ornamented the walls of his dwelling. Whenever 
a stranger was admitted, or kept a few moments in 
waiting till Mr. Rutherford could attend to him, there 
was scarcely a point of the parlor wall that did not 
preach to him a wholesome biblical lecture. I once 
turned for a moment to one of these silent monitors, and 
read, " Lean not to thine own understanding ; but in all 
thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy 
paths." This truth has, more or less, followed me ever 
since. I have found in it the cause of many of the mis- 
takes which I have made in life, and the rule by observ- 
ing which I might have avoided a thousand sorrows. 



132 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

of the Church to crown Mr. Bramwell* s ministry 
with an abundant blessing. The writer of these 
lines is specially entitled to indulge in this senti- 
ment 5 for, after a season of the deepest sorrow, 
as Mr. Bramwell was preaching at Norfolk Street 
Chapel, the Lord was pleased to whisper peace to 
him who makes this communication. From that 
time the ' powers of the world to come' shone 
brighter and brighter, till he was enabled to wit- 
ness, with full assurance, yea. if needful, before 
assembled worlds, that he ' had not followed cun- 
ningly devised fables.' He could then ' rejoice 
with joy unspeakable and full of glory/ But he 
was not a solitary instance ; for it was then by no 
means uncommon for those who had been present 
at such seasons of refreshment, to return home 
with the joyful tidings that many were born in 
Zion, without being able accurately to number 
those who were brought into that glorious liberty. 
While some were able to witness, by the Spirit 
of adoption, crying, 'Abba, Father !' that God for 
Christ's sake had blotted out as a thick cloud 
their transgressions, others were constrained to 
testify that G-od had not only 'power on earth to 
forgive sins/ but to 'cleanse them from all un- 
righteousness/ and to make them 'meet for an 
inheritance with the saints in light.' " 

His respected colleague, Mr. Pipe, bears the 
following testimony to his piety and usefulness : 

"In 1795 my lot was cast in the Bradford 
Circuit, Yorkshire ; and Mr. Bramwell having 
been stationed the two preceding years in the 
adjoining circuit, I had frequent opportunities of 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 133 

hearing the experience of those who had been 
benefited by his ministry. His zealous endeavors 
to promote a spirit of piety among the different 
societies, his powerful praying and wrestling with 
God early and late, and his invariable aim to 
induce believers to ' perfect holiness in the fear 
of the Lord/ caused him to be greatly noticed, 
and drew many to hear him from the neighboring 
circuits. These caught the flame ; and prayer- 
meetings and watch-nights were more strictly 
observed, and the work of God prospered in 
many places. 

" Thus was he blessed to many in those parts 
of Yorkshire; but much more so afterward 
in the Sheffield Circuit. The Lord had greatly 
refreshed his heritage, before he had received 
that appointment ; but it might be said of him, 
as of Barnabas, that 'when he came and had 
seen the grace of God, he was glad and exhorted 
them all, that with purpose of heart they would 
cleave unto the Lord; for he was a good man 
and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith; and 
much people was added unto the Lord; for 
he helped them much which had believed 
through grace/ " 

The pious and composed state of his mind 
during this great work of God, is clearly shown 
in the subjoined letters : 



12 



134 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER II. 

TO MR. GEOKGE MABSDEN. 

» Sheffield, 1795. 

" The Lord has begun to work among you. 
I pray that nothing may hinder. Go on your 
way using every prudent means. Speak evil 
of no man ; neither be discouraged by any. 
Preach a present salvation, and pray for present 
blessings; the Lord always prospered this plan. 
Preach sanctification as a blessing now to be 
received by faith. 

" On the day appointed for thanksgiving, the 
work broke out here in our chapel, at the even- 
ing meeting. Many souls had been previously 
set at liberty in the classes, and at the prayer- 
meetings ; but on that night there was a general 
outpouring of the Spirit. We desired all in dis- 
tress to come into the vestry, when eight souls 
were delivered from the bondage of sin. Eight 
more received pardon on the Sunday. Monday 
was our love-feast ; and near the close of it the 
power of God came upon us. We concluded at 
the usual time, but begged of all in distress to 
stay, and before eight o'clock it appeared to many 
good men that more than twenty souls were 
delivered; the work has gone forward every day 
since, less or more. In two classes, more than 
twenty experienced salvation. I have had clear 
evidence, and, to speak within bounds, I am per- 
suaded of more than one hundred persons having 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 135 

found liberty in three weeks. pray for us that 
nothing may hinder ! The Lord be with us all 
in this great work I" 

In another letter he refers to the society in 
Liverpool, and says : 

"My prayer is, that you may yet see much 
greater things before you leave them ! May 
that precious society revive and increase with 
the increase of God ! The salvation of souls is 
the glory of the ministry. Shall we see the 
glory spread, or depart ? May we hope for the 
former ! and in our little way be willing to die, 
to see the life S The kingdom will yet come, 
but, I am led to believe, not in my time. How- 
ever, I know I am drinking much deeper into 
its spirit; and in praying without ceasing I 
shall receive the fulness of God. I am more 
than ever ashamed of unbelief. how it dis- 
honors God and his truth ! All is ours, and we 
shall receive all." 

In a third letter he says : 

" I have always union with God. I feel no- 
thing but pure love in the greatest afflictions. 
I am often powerfully tempted, and sometimes 
heavy ; this was in our Lord. I feel I am going 
on. I have a continual opening between God 
and my soul, in prayer, love, and gratitude. I 
have a constant heaven in dependence upon the 
Lord. I feel weaker than ever, and God my all. 
Amen !" 



136 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER III. 

TO MR. BARGREAVES. 

" Sheffield, June 30, 1796. 

"Dear Brother: — 

"A good work is still going on here, and many 
precious souls receive salvation. I am very de- 
sirous of more of the image of God, and do find 
some little increase. I often think of the ex- 
ample of St. Paul, but more of Jesus Christ. I 
believe it is our place to walk as he walked. I 
see that the world is in a miserable state ; none 
truly at peace but they who leave all and follow 
him. Christ hath done all in point of merit, but 
we must 'ask and receive, that our joy may be 
full/ I see more than ever that those who are 
given up to God in continual prayer, are men of 
business both for earth and heaven : they go 
through the world with composure, are resigned 
to every cross, and make the greatest glory of the 
greatest cross. On the other hand, if not given 
up to God in prayer, every cross brings the 
greatest perplexity, and robs them of the little 
love and patience they enjoy. To be all alive to 
God is, as it were, two heavens : to be unstable, 
and not a whole Christian, is two hells. 0, my 
brother, I hope you and your house will serve the 
Lord ! I would advise you to consider the great 
privilege of the gospel ; and even beg, yea, beg 
with tears, that your house may be consecrated 
to God through the preaching of the word and 
much prayer, and by having God's servants under 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 137 

your roof. Remember the house of ' Obededom/ 
I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

A respected friend has kindly transmitted the 
subjoined account : 

"Mr. Bramwell's method of preaching had 
considerable variety in it. Though he accounted 
it the alpha and omega of his ministry to alarm 
sinners in the midst of their carnal security, and 
<to instruct believers in righteousness, that the 
man of God might be perfect/ (and in each of 
these momentous departments he was equally 
excellent,) yet, in carrying his intentions into 
effect, he often introduced some agreeable mode 
of illustration, especially among the poor people 
in country places. 

"I remember to have heard him preach an 
excellent sermon from Micah iv. 13, 'Arise and 
thresh, daughter of Zion ! For I will make 
thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; 
and thou shalt beat in pieces many people ; and 
I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and 
their substance unto the Lord of the whole 
earth/ In an easy and familiar style he ex- 
plained his text, by informing the good people, 
that corn was threshed out among the oriental 
nations, by means of oxen or horses, which were 
driven round an area, filled with loose sheaves, 
and by their continued trampling the corn was 
separated from the straw. That this might be 
done the more effectually, the text promised an 
12* 



138 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

addition to the natural horny substance on the 
feet of these animals, by ' making their horn iron 
and their hoofs brass/ 'In this way/ he said, 
' corn is not threshed in England ; but it is among 
us usually beaten out by a flail ; and, as I am 
preaching to Englishmen, I conceive that I am 
doing no injury to the sentiments of my text by 
changing a few of the terms into those which are 
to you the most familiar/ He then showed how 
the whole portrayed gospel times ; and that 
though in a more restricted sense it applied to 
ministers of the gospel, yet it had a direct refer- 
ence to the duty of all God's people, who were 
commanded to i arise and thresh/ and whose 
privilege it was to come to Him that alone was 
able to qualify them for their labor. In ( making 
their horn iron, and their hoofs brass/ the Lord 
was desirous of imparting stability and perpetuity 
to his own Divine work, by granting supernatural 
aid to the faithful, that they might perform for 
him those services to which their own feeble and 
unassisted powers were totally inadequate. * Be- 
sides/ he added, 'it is encouraging for the saints 
to know that they are provided with weapons 
both offensive and defensive. The threshing- 
instrument is of the former description : it is of 
the same quality as that which is said to be 
" quick and powerful, and sharper than any two- 
edged sword." For this purpose the Son of G-od 
was manifested, that he might destroy the works 
of the Devil; and this is one of the weapons 
which he employs, in the hands of his people, to 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 139 

carry his gracious designs into execution. With 
this, it is promised, they u shall beat in pieces 
many people." ' 

"In the course of his sermon, he related, in 
the metaphorical style which his text sanctioned, 
many recent and remarkable instances of the suc- 
cessful application of the gospel flail. ( A few 
days ago/ said he, <a zealous man, small of sta- 
ture, went to a neighboring town,* and, in a most 
loving spirit, with this implement, began to thresh 
an assembly of ungodly men. When he had 
finished his work, it was found that he had 
threshed the Devil out of more than forty persons. 
And with the help of God, I am resolved, O 
sinner, to try what effects the smart strokes of 
this threshing -instrument will produce on thy 
unhumbled soul !' 

" He proceeded to exhort his hearers with con- 
siderable ability, to assail sin wherever it ap- 
peared. l Attack it. courageously with this 
powerful flail, which is sometimes called "the 
sword of the Spirit," and is in reality "the word 
of Gi-od." Such a weapon may seem contemptible 
in the eyes of the natural man ; yet, when it is 
properly wielded, its consequences are invariably 
potent and salutary. I have known it, in the 
hands of a feeble woman, bring her husband to 
"his right mind." In making trial of its efficacy, 

* This was spoken in allusion to Mr. Joseph Oakes, 
at that time a very useful local preacher in the Sheffield 
Circuit, and who had a few days before been preaching 
at Thorpe, when many souls were convinced of sin and 
found peace with God. 



140 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

even little children have caused their parents to 
cry aloud for mercy. But in every case, much 
of its heavenly charm and virtue depends on the 
mode in which it is applied. It should always 
be lifted up in a kind and loving spirit/ 

"I highly approved of the ingenious turn 
which he gave to this scriptural metaphor ; and 
his bold and energetic language was most edify- 
ing. If he had spoken in this way only before 
the faithful, all would have been well. But this 
free discourse was delivered in my native village ; 
and I knew that many people of frivolous minds, 
and others who were confirmed scoffers, attended 
our meetings for the sole purpose of carrying 
away every thing which they could turn into 
ridicule. I therefore trembled while Mr. Brani- 
well was preaching, lest the uncommon remarks 
which he made should become food for scorn ers, 
and furnish a fund of laughter for their wicked 
companions. But my apprehensions at once sub- 
sided, when, at the close of his address, he made 
a sudden pause, and said with a grave coun- 
tenance, and in a tone of voice the most solemn 
and impressive, ' If any person go from this place 
and attempt to scoff at the word of truth which 
he has heard, or the use which I have made of it, 
in the name of God I here charge that person to 
answer at the peril of his soul, for such an act of 
profanation, before the bar of the great Judge of 
quick and dead V This warning was well-timed, 
and the effects of it most surprising. For though 
in that place, as in other villages, some few per- 
sons monopolize the office of buffoon-general, and 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 141 

prostitute their talents to the low arts of foolish 
jesting; yet neither they, nor any one else, ven- 
tured to make the least unfavorable allusion to 
this very singular discourse; thus 

' Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, 
And fools, who came to scoflf, remained to pray.' 

"Mr. Bramwell at all times showed himself 
greatly attached to the Methodist discipline. 
Every breach in it caused him as much pain, as 
the strict observance of it afforded him pleasure. 
It was therefore with much regret he saw some 
characters of the greatest promise forfeit their 
share in the benefits of Church fellowship, by 
forming such matrimonial alliances as were con- 
trary to the word of God, and in opposition to the 
rules of Methodism. Whenever he found any 
young men or women exposed to this fascinating 
snare, he faithfully described the heinousness of 
the offence, and affectionately warned them of the 
danger into which they were running. In rela- 
tion to this subject, he has sometimes mentioned 
the following affecting occurrence : 

"A young gentleman who was a stranger to 
religion, paid his addresses to a young lady of 
great piety. She consulted Mr. Bramwell and 
other religious friends, all of whom dissuaded her 
from giving the least countenance to such a con- 
nection. She was shown that no felicitous union 
could be expected in opposition to the plainest 
commands of Heaven, as they are expressed in 
Scripture. Her reason approved of their argu- 
ments; but the youth, in making his advances, 



142 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

exhibited wonderful attractions, the influence of 
which her vanity would not allow her to resist. 
He often assured her that, instead of objecting 
to her religious principles, they heightened her 
charms in his eyes, and he loved her the more on 
account of them. When it is further stated, that 
he plausibly intimated how her bright example 
would allure him to the practice of all her vir- 
tuous observances, it is scarcely needful to add, 
that he succeeded in his purpose, and she gave 
him her hand. To save appearances, he attended 
her to public worship on the Sabbath, a few 
times after their marriage. But alas ! too soon 
he threw aside this mask of duplicity ; and pro- 
ceeded from one act of hostility to another, till at 
length, with all the malicious and premeditated 
cruelty of an assassin, he made a desperate 
attempt on her life ! How strongly do facts like 
this enforce the scriptural exhortation, 'Be not 
unequally yoked with unbelievers V " 

The following letters, addressed to a young lady 
at Dewsbury, exhibit Mr. Bram well's strong affec- 
tion for his spiritual children, and the judicious 
manner in which he tendered them his counsel : 



LETTER IV. 

TO MISS PARKER. 

" Sheffield, March 3, 1796. 
" My Dear Sister : — I am glad that you con- 
tinue in the faith j from which I hope nothing 
will ever be able to move you. — You know the 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 143 

benefit of loving God with all your heart ; and 'I 
have no greater joy than to hear that my child- 
ren walk in the truth/ 0, dear sister, be a spirit 
entirely devoted to God ! Pray continually ! A 
greater glory will come upon you. You cannot tell 
what you may receive ; but ask in constant faith. 
" Let all your life be Christ's. — Consider what 
he hath done for you, in bringing you into the 
present light. Thousands have desired to see 
these things, but have not been permitted. ! 
be thankful, always thankful ! This will improve 
your mind, and prepare it for the receiving of 
every other blessing. 

" I am, with much respect, 

" Your servant in Christ, 

" Wm. Bramwell. 

"P.S. — Can you plead more with God? Can 
you love God more ? Can you have greater union 
with him ? You may have all these with great 
increase. I want you to continue a burning, as 
well as a shining light. — I do not see but you 
may be as useful as Nanny Cutler, if you give all 
to God." 

LETTER V. 

TO THE SAME. 

"Sheffield, August 21, 1796. 
" My Dear Child : — I am truly happy to 
find you walking in the truth. I greatly long 
to see you, and hope that the Lord will make 
your way plain 



144 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

" You will, I believe, receive a greater fulness ; 
and I think you are very near a more intimate 
union with God. But, keep your evidence clear 
for sanctification : — Wrestle with God for this j — 
and when clear, be on stretch for all the fulness. 
This will be the means of holding fast all that 
you receive. I want you to live near to God, 
and in all the sweet mind of Christ. If you give 
yourself to the Lord every day, in sweet covenant, 
and lie always in his hands, He, I know, will 
make all outward things plain to you. But when 
we exercise in the least our own will, we are never 
safe, but liable to every error, and to many evils. 
You shall see great things even in your life; 
only be faithful in every little act for God. He 
will make you ruler over many things. 

" Several families have turned to God in Shef- 
field lately ; some of them are of the most respect- 
able class. I wonder at the Lord's goodness. 
The work is still going on. — May God, who hath 
made you and me of the same mind and disposi- 
tion, give his great blessing to Dewsbury this 
year ! Now may the God of peace, who gives 
peace to his Church, give us all peace and love ! 
May the blessed work go on in every place, till 
this nation is overspread with the glory of God ! 
0, pray, pray ! and the Lord will answer. 
" I am, with much respect, 

" Your servant in Christ, 
"Wm. Bramwell." 

In the preceding part of this memoir, the 
reader will have perceived how deeply Mr. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 145 

Bramwell was concerned for the enlargement of 
the Redeemer's kingdom. If souls were saved, 
it occupied little of his concern to know who 
were the instruments employed by the Almighty. 
However feeble the means might be, he was 
anxious that all the glory might redound to the 
Giver of all good. With these views, he greatly 
rejoiced to hear of the usefulness of Miss Mary 
Barrett, a pious female of Colne, who had begun 
to exhort in public, and had been rendered a 
great blessing. 

Many eminent divines have entertained dis- 
cordant opinions respecting female preaching. 
Mr. Bramwell thought that, in the accomplish- 
ment of the great work of human redemption, 
the Almighty had a sovereign right to make his 
own election of instruments. To question the 
validity of any one's call whose labors were 
clearly sanctioned by the broad seal of Heaven, 
appeared, in his eyes, a most unwarrantable act 
of presumption. 

It is well known that female preachers are not 
peculiar to Methodism. They have been recog- 
nized as accredited teachers by the Quakers from 
the beginning. It is probable that, on this sub- 
ject, Mr. Brain well's sentiments were much in 
unison with those of the respectable society of 
Friends. He regarded Joel's prophecy as con- 
taining an obvious reference to the gospel dispen- 
sation. In this view it was quoted by the apostle 
Peter on the day of Pentecost : "And it shall 
come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will 
pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh ; and your 
13 



146 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

sons and your daughters shall prophesy ; and your 
young men shall see visions, and your old men 
shall dream dreams ; and on my servants and on 
my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of 
my Spirit; and they shall prophesy/' A few 
women of great piety were accustomed at an early 
period in the history of Methodism, publicly to 
warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come. 
They took up this cross, because they considered 
it a duty ; and in bearing a testimony for Christ, 
they were sometimes called to suffer persecution. 
Their previous attainments and experience, under 
the teaching of the Holy Spirit, qualified them 
for this weighty undertaking; and their pious 
exertions were greatly blessed in the Lord. 
Among these ancient female worthies, was the 
late Miss Bosanquet, afterward Mrs. Fletcher, 
who frequently engaged in this interesting em- 
ployment. Some persons had expressed a degree 
of surprise at her continuing occasionally to ad- 
dress a congregation. It was her desire to 
" abstain from all appearance of evil," and to do 
nothing by which a weak brother might be 
offended. She therefore wrote to that " great 
man in Israel," the Rev. John Wesley, stated 
her case, and received from him the following 
reply : 

TO MRS. BOSANQUET. 

"Londonderry, June 13, 1771. 
" My Dear Sister : — I think the strength 
of the cause rests there, in your having an extra- 
ordinary call. So, I am persuaded, has every 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 14:1 

one of our lay preachers; otherwise I could' not 
countenance their preaching at all. It is plain 
to me that the whole work of God termed Method- 
ism is an extraordinary dispensation of his provi- 
dence. Therefore, I do not wonder if several 
things occur therein which do not fall under 
ordinary rules of discipline. St. Paul's ordinary 
rule of discipline was, ' I permit not a woman to 
speak in the congregation ;' yet, in extraordinary 
cases, he made a few exceptions ; at Corinth in 
particular. 

u I am, my dear sister, 

" Your affectionate brother, 

" J. Wesley/' 

Similar to these were Mr. Bram well's views. 
He considered that Miss Barrett had "an extra- 
dinary call/' and to him she appeared to be 
divinely qualified for the work. She had received 
a good education, and possessed great strength of 
understanding; she was distinguished for the 
depth of her piety and the fervency of her zeal, 
and her labors in public were very successful. He 
therefore gave her every encouragement to pro- 
ceed in the path in which, by the blessing of God, 
she had been rendered useful in her own confined 
neighborhood, and thought her called by Divine 
Providence to move in a more extensive circle. 
Many persons, in different parts of the kingdom, 
will have reason to bless God that they were 
favored with the privilege of hearing from her 
lips the joyful sound of the gospel. With the 
subjoined letter to her we will close this chapter. 



148 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER VI. 

TO MISS BARRETT. 

"Sheffield, Saturday. 

" My Dear Sister in Christ : — I live in 
much peace and love ; but for a season I am not 
able to declare it. I have seen his arm made 
bare lately j but was forced to stop. I thank the 
Lord he is with you. May a greater power rest 
upon you and upon the people ! — Your work is 
great ; and the Lord can work with you. 

"I had a blessed time with Mr. Blagborne. 
He wanted much to see you. God is with him. 
I hope you will pray for us more and more. 
Sister Rhodes is come, but she wants lifting up. 

"I should hold a love-feast at Mansfield next 
Monday. Is it possible that you can go in my 
place ? I beg that you will return me an answer 
by the bearer. It is about twelve miles from 
Chesterfield. I shall not rest, unless I can have 
a proper supply. I beg you will give my love to 
all friends. I long to see them. 

"I am, yours, etc., 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 149 



CHAPTER IX. 

Mr. Braniwell's removal to the Nottingham Circuit — Unsettled state 
of the society in that place — Great exertions to procure a place 
of worship — Remarkable answers to prayer — Letters — Anecdotes 
— His conduct as a superintendent. 

Nottingham was the next scene of Mr. Bram- 
well's labors. The Conference of 1798 appointed 
him to that circuit. A great number of our 
members had joined the new connection; and 
those who remained were in a very unsettled state. 
As Mr. Bramwell was much esteemed, it was 
thought that his labors might prove peculiarly 
beneficial, and tend to heal the wounds which the 
Church had received. The trustees of our large 
chapel in Nottingham had given it up to Mr. 
Kilham. Our preachers, therefore, were obliged 
to officiate in private houses and barns, or such 
other places as they could procure for the pur- 
pose. This was very embarrassing, and caused 
many painful feelings to the preachers; but to 
Mr. Bramwell, who was leaving a circuit where 
all was harmony and love, these things must have 
been peculiarly distressing. He entered, how- 
ever, upon his new station with a fixed resolution 
not to engage in any controversy respecting the 
division, but to do every thing in his power to 
build up the broken walls of Zion, and to bring 
souls to Christ. 
13* 



150 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

The following letter, written soon after his 
entrance into the circuit, will show what were the 
leading objects of his attention : 



LETTER VII. 

TO MISS BARRETT. 

" Nottingham, September 22, 1798. 

" My Dear Sister in the Lord : — I was 
sorry to hear of your sudden call. I hope your 
mind is kept composed. God hath given : he 
will take away when it pleaseth him. Our fathers 
and our mothers are His. for submission to 
his blessed will in all things ! This shows how 
uncertain we are in this world. 

" I pray more ) and will still ciy, c Lord, make 
us meet for thy glory V Every moment may we 
live to him, and him alone ! I am giving myself 
to continual prayer. What will be the answer, I 
cannot tell ; but shall wait to see his glory in the 
blessed Jesus. He is our all, and must bring all 
we need. 

" I found things flat in Nottingham. Build- 
ing chapels are hard times. Almost in every 
country place I have seen the Lord work ; and I 
do hope to see greater things than these. 

"We all expect you immediately when you 
are set free. The Lord bring you soon, that you 
may cast your net into this deep sea of iniquity, 
and bring to land a few souls for his glory ! I 
long to show the world his blood, and then to 
stand before the throne of God. I pray that you, 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 151 

and every soul that speaks for the Lord, may cry 
in every place, ' Prepare to meet thy God !' 

"I have found very few in this circuit that 
know any thing about sanctification. What are 
we ? God be merciful to us ! save us, both 
preachers and people ! Amen. Do pray more 
still, and say to the Lord for me, ' I will not let 
thee go unless thou bless him/ May we live 
every day to God ! 

" I am your affectionate friend and brother, 
" Wm. Bramwell." 

But though Mr. Bramwell always endeavored 
to preserve his spirituality untainted by grovelling 
objects, and for this cause refused to intermeddle 
in the mutual railing, which was then a practice 
too frequent among those who had formerly been 
"brethren beloved/' yet it must not be supposed 
from this that he was, in the time of difficulty, a 
supine auxiliary. If he did not enter into wordy 
discussions that ministered to mutual aggravation, 
he showed by deeds that he was greatly concerned 
for the welfare of the Connection, and exerted 
himself most heartily to raise the necessary funds 
for erecting a new chapel in Nottingham. For 
this purpose he was diligent in collecting all the 
money he could possibly procure from his wealthy 
friends; and of these there were not a few to 
whom his ministry had been made a blessing. 
Mr. Henry Longden, of Sheffield, gives the fol- 
lowing narrative of Mr. Bramwell's visit to that 
town : 

"At that time, be it remembered, Nottingham 



152 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

and Huddersfield were peculiarly circumstarjced 
with respect to their chapels ) and though Shef- 
field was not one of the circuits enumerated in the 
minutes of the Conference to be applied to for the 
relief of Nottingham, yet it was deemed proper 
to send Mr. Bramwell there as a powerful advo- 
cate for both those places. 

" We can never forget the first appearance of 
Mr. Bramwell at that time in Garden Street 
Chapel. He had given the people no previous 
notice of his coming. The sight of him, there- 
fore, produced an astonishing and almost electri- 
cal effect upon the society. The remembrance 
of the many happy seasons with each other, in 
public and private, passed in overwhelming re- 
view, and the people could not sing, nor could 
their beloved minister preach or pray, without 
the most powerful efforts and frequent interrup- 
tions. Their joy was indeed ecstatic. When the 
object of his visit was known, the people vied 
with each other, and seemed as if they would 
pour in their whole store. Their bounty was so 
lavish, that he had to restrain the feelings and 
limit the donations of many, till, oppressed with 
a torrent of love and gratitude, he suddenly left 
the town, to prevent the poor from exceeding the 
proper bounds of their benevolence. Multitudes 
tendered their voluntary offerings without making 
any inquiry about the object to which it was 
applied. In this affectionate manner did they 
testify their love to a revered pastor, who had 
been a sharer in their joys, and had borne a part 
in their sorrows/' 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 153 

| 

While lie was thus actively employed in Shef- 
field, he addressed the subjoined letter to his 
beloved wife, in which it is evident, " Whatever 
work his hands employed, his heart was still with 
God." 

LETTER VIII. 

TO MRS. BRAMWELL. 

" Sheffield, December 7, 1798. 

" My Dear Ellen : — I thought of seeing you 
this evening; but am persuaded it will be well 
for Mr. Pipe to come a few days. I see a work 
for myself in Sheffield. 

" We have blessed seasons every day, and some 
are daily saved. I am stretching toward the 
mark : my soul continually goes out after the 
Lord : I am sure we are just beginning to live, 
and believe we shall live like our Lord in meek- 
ness and love. ! what need of keeping up the 
strife every day ! May nothing slacken our pace ! 
Our fight is nearly over — our crown will shortly 
be given. 

" Let us live every moment free from all the 
world. We never bring such glory to God as 
when we cast our all upon him. He loves to 
bear his children in his arms, and to see them 
always joyful. Ellen ! trust in him, — pray to 
him, — work for him, — have no fear, — rush 
through all to save a soul from burning. I pray 
for you. — I have the whole family upon my 
heart. I trust Miss Rhodes will ever join us 
in seeking this latter-day glory ! May we all 



154 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

live as near to Christ as it is possible for the spirit 
in the body ! Nothing shall in this world, for 
one moment, make us rest short of the mind of 
Jesus. 

" I am sure you will see and know that I am 
with God in Christ Jesus. I am enabled, through 
grace, to love all more and more, and to love God 
in all. ! keep this recollection of soul ; let no- 
thing bustle the spirit; let nothing make you 
care ; be always at his feet, waiting and longing 
to be with him ! The Lord bless you and the 
children. Amen. 

" I am yours affectionately, 

u Wm. Bramwell." 

Mr. Tatham, a respectable local preacher in 
Nottingham, has furnished the following interest- 
ing information : — 

"It is now upward of twenty-two years since I 
first became acquainted with our much-lamented 
brother, Mr. Bramwell. The benefit which I de- 
rived from a close intimacy with him during his 
three years' residence in Nottingham, will, I trust, 
never be erased from my memory. His whole 
deportment and conversation were such as evinced 
that he constantly lived in the spirit of prayer 
and devotedness to God. On some particular oc- 
casions I have had the honor of entertaining him 
under my roof, when I have been a witness to his 
ardent supplications at a throne of grace at the 
early hour of four o'clock in the morning; and 
this, I have been informed, was a regular practice 
with him, in winter as well as in summer. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 155 

" Some remarkable answers to his prayers have 
come within my observation. One or two in- 
stances I well remember. At the division of the 
Methodist body, in the year 1797, the society at 
Nottingham, being deprived of their chapel, had 
no place of worship in which to assemble : they 
were consequently under the necessity of erecting 
a new one ; but they found it difficult to procure 
a piece of land suitable for the purpose : the 
boundaries of this town being limited by the 
common right to the fields which surround it, 
vacant plots of ground in the interior of the town 
are not only very scarce, but also very dear. For 
niue months we had been on the search ; during 
which we made application for such pieces of land 
as we deemed eligible, but all without effect ; no 
one would sell us any land. The most desirable 
situation was a paddock belonging to the late 
John Sherwin, Esq., and various were the appli- 
cations made in our behalf. But this gentleman 
also refused to accommodate us with any part of 
his estate. Thus all our attempts were frus- 
trated, and our hopes apparently blasted. But our 
extremity was the Lord's opportunity; for, at the 
very time we were ready to despair of finding a 
situation, our worthy friends, the late Mr. Henry 
Longden and Mr. Bramwell, came over from 
Sheffield to see us. This was on the twenty- 
eighth day of May, 1798. The next morning I 
had a private interview with Mr. Bramwell, when 
he asked me if we had procured a piece of land 
for the chapel : to which I replied in the negative, 
assuring him that there was not one suitable place 



156 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

in the town for which we had not endeavored to 
make interest, and yet had applied without success. 
He heard me with much attention, and then said, 
1 Brother Tatham, let us pray about it.' In his 
prayer he said, c The earth is the Lord's, and the 
fulness thereof; the cattle also upon a thousand 
hills. The hearts of all men are in his hands, 
and he can turn them as the rivers of the south/ 
He then most feelingly described our situation, 
crying, 'Lord! thou seest their necessity, and I 
believe thou wilt provide a piece of land for them, 
on which to build this chapel.' And soon afterward, 
with increasing faith, he said, 'Lord! I believe 
thou wilt find them a piece of land this day;' 
which expression he repeated several times, lay- 
ing a particular emphasis upon this day. Per- 
haps no one ever entertained a higher opinion of 
Mr. Bram well's faith and prayer than myself; 
yet, even in the face of that promise which I had 
frequently seen fulfilled, Mark xi. 24,* when I 
had called to remembrance the various applica- 
tions we had made, and the disappointments 
which had followed, I found it difficult to believe 
against hope. 

"But the Lord's thoughts are not as our 
thoughts, nor are his ways as our ways. After 
breakfasting at Mr. Bartholomew's, then our super- 
intendent preacher, we agreed to search the town 
for some other piece of land. But in a short 
time I was called off upon other business, and 

* a Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye 
desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and 
ye shall have them." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 157 

could not afterward meet with my friends, al- 
though I sought them the whole forenoon. I 
afterward found that Mr. Bramwell and Mr. Long- 
den had gone to Mr. Sherwin's paddock, which 
we had entirely despaired of obtaining. It will 
be necessary to observe, that John Fellows, Esq., 
has a garden at the back of his house, which ad- 
joins the theatre on one side, and Mr. Sherwin's 
paddock on the other. Mr. Longden on his re- 
turn stated that they had seen some land near 
the theatre suitable for the purpose. I asked if 
it belonged to Mr. Fellows, because I recollected 
that he had a garden near the theatre, to which 
he replied, 'I think that is the gentleman's 
name/ I then remarked, ' We have long sought 
in vain; and in some instances have endeavored 
to conceal our intention of building a chapel. 
We will now go openly : I will wait upon Mr. 
Fellows, and ask if he will sell us a part of his 
garden as a site for a Methodist chapel/ I did 
so, and after a short pause that worthy gentle- 
man said, ' I will let you have it/ 

" Soon after my return, I discovered that the 
land which was promised to me, though the most 
eligible of any in that part of the town, was not 
the same as that on which Mr. Longden had 
fixed. He had seen Mr. Sherwin's paddock • and 
not knowing that it had often been refused to us, 
he had considered it a most excellent situation. 
When he related the result of his search, he mis- 
took Mr. Sherwin's name; and gave me to under- 
stand that, as well as he could recollect, the lot 
of which he approved belonged to Mr. Fellows. 
14 



158 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

But, being a stranger in Nottingham, he had for- 
gotten the name of the real owner, and was, quite 
undesignedly, the cause of my going to Mr. Fel- 
lows, with whom I happily succeeded. How 
mysterious are the ways of Providence ! For it 
so happened that two circumstances, trivial in ap- 
pearance, viz., my absence from the friends who 
went to look at the ground, and Mr. Longden's 
mistake in substituting the name of Fellows for 
Sherwin, put us that day in possession of the site 
of land upon which our chapel was afterward 
built. And all this appeared to be done that the 
prayer of faith might have its accomplishment. 
i Now all things are possible to him that believeth/ 
"Another instance of Mr. Braniwell's faith 
was at the time when a general alarm agitated 
our body respecting a bill which M. A. Taylor, 
Esq., was about to bring into the House of Com- 
mons, to abridge the religious liberties of Dissent- 
ers. Many at that season were led to plead 
mightily with God that our privileges might be 
continued; and, among others, Mr. Bramwell did 
not forget to offer up his fervent supplications. 
At the evening service, one Lord's day, before a 
very crowded congregation, he got into an agony 
of prayer • and, after wrestling for some time, he 
said, ' Lord ! thou hast now told me that this bill 
shall never pass into a law.' Adding, ' It is out 
of the power of any man, or any set of men, to 
bring it to pass !' Several of the congregation 
thought he was going too far; but in about a 
week afterward the bill was quashed. 

" In the great revival of the work of God 



MEMOIR OF W. BR AM WELL. 159 

which broke out at Sheffield and Nottingham 
about the same time, Mr. Bramwell took a very- 
active part. At several of our meetings, the out- 
pouring of the Spirit was so manifest, that a 
whole assembly have been wrought upon and 
powerfully affected at once. Such glorious dis- 
plays of the Lord's omnipotent power, and of his 
willingness to save perishing sinners, I believe will 
never be forgotten by hundreds, who then partook 
of the Divine blessing. It seemed as if the Lord 
was about to * sweep the nations and shake the 
earth, till all proclaimed him God.' But in seve- 
ral revivals of religion, when God has raised up 
various witnesses of his power to save, and in- 
struments to carry his purposes into execution, 
the enemy of souls has also been very forward to 
promote the interests of his kingdom. In order 
to compass his infernal designs, he has raised up 
instruments to ape or imitate the work of God, in 
the same manner as in the days of old, when, by 
his servant Pharaoh, he ordered the magicians of 
Egypt to exhibit the very miracles which Moses 
had performed by the Divine command. If the 
hypocrisy of such characters is not timely disco- 
vered, the injury which the good cause will sus- 
tain by them is inconceivable. Now Mr. Bram- 
well was by no means of a censorious disposition ; 
yet he had the gift of discerning the spirits and 
dispositions of men in a remarkable manner. I 
have frequently known him detect impostors who 
have stepped forth to exercise in various meet- 
ings. On one occasion, when he was desired to 
visit a dying man, I went with him. We beheld 



160 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

the wretched object without a shirt to his back. 
The few rags which hung on him scarcely covered 
his body. His habitation was a damp, misera- 
ble cellar, and a woman was attending him who 
was represented to be his wife. For some time 
after our entrance into this dwelling, Mr. Bram- 
well remained silent; at length he exclaimed, 
? All is not right here ! I am clear there is some- 
thing amiss in this place V Then turning to the 
woman, he said, ' This man is not your husband. 
You never were married to him ; but for several 
years you have been living together in sin and 
wickedness !' His word went with power to their 
hearts, — they both wept exceedingly, acknow- 
ledged the charge to be true, and began to entreat 
the Lord to have mercy upon them." 

Like the great apostle, Mr. Bramwell was will- 
ing to " become all things to all men, that he 
might gain some;" of which the following is a 
striking instance : — 

At one of the villages in the Nottingham Cir- 
cuit, several persons had left the Methodist society 
and joined the Quakers. Mr. Bramwell heard 
with pain that they had withdrawn themselves. 
The next time of his going to preach in that 
place, it occurred to him that it perhaps might 
be profitable to deviate a little from the usual 
mode of public worship ; and therefore, after his 
sermon, he said to the congregation, " Sit down, 
friends ! and we will hold a Quaker's meeting." 
He then exhorted them to lift up their hearts to 
God, and earnestly, though silently, to pray for 
the descent of the Holy Ghost. While he and 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 1G1 

the congregation were thus engaged, the Spirit 
of the Lord was poured out upon them : several 
fell from their seats, some in great distress of 
mind, while others felt the " overwhelming 
power of grace divine :" so that Mr. Bramwell him- 
self seemed to be quite overpowered, and cried 
out. " 0, my Lord ! I never thought of this !" 

Wherever Mr, Bramwell went, he endeavored 
to promote the comfort and happiness of all 
around him. When any of the members of the 
numerous families whom he visited were in dis- 
tress or affliction, like another Samaritan, his bow- 
els of mercy yearned over them, and his benevo- 
lent arm was stretched out to their relief. To 
lessen the portion of human misery, and to be 
instrumental in pouring the balm of consolation 
into the wounded spirit, afforded him the highest 
gratification. In relation to these remarks, the 
following narrative of facts was given by one Mr. 
Greensmith, on the 14th of December, 1818 : — 

" William Greensmith, son of Thomas Green- 
smith, of Watnal, near Nottingham, when about 
nine years of age, was severely afflicted with a 
scrofulous humor in his eyes, so that he was una- 
ble to bear the light even with bandages upon 
them. Mr. Bramwell was then in the Notting- 
ham Circuit, and went in his regular turn to 
preach at Mr. Greensmith' s house. On one of 
these occasions, he remained all night; and pre- 
vious to his departure the next morning, when his 
horse was brought to the door, he asked where 
the boy was who had sore eyes. Mrs. Green- 
smith replied, that he was in a dark room behind 
14* 



162 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

the door. He wished hini to be called out : he 
came and stood near Mr. Bramwell, who put his 
hand on the boy's head, and looked upward, as if 
in the act of ejaculatory prayer. He then went 
out, leaving the child standing; while the latter, 
as if conscious of some important change, pulled 
off his bandages, looked through the window, and 
asked if Mr. Bramwell was gone. On perceiving 
that his eyes were perfectly healed, all the family 
were completely astonished. He is now about 
thirty years of age, and has never since had any 
complaint in his organs of sight. " 

In this circuit Mr. Pipe became again his col- 
league, and speaks thus of him : — 

" In 1799, 1 was again called to labor with Mr. 
Bramwell in the Nottingham Circuit. Our cha- 
pel in Nottingham was taken from us by the Sepa- 
ratists ; in consequence of which, our preachers 
and people were under the necessity of meeting 
in a barn till another place of worship was erect- 
ed in the town. In this they were made to prove 
that places of the humblest construction became 
Bethels when consecrated by the blessing and 
presence of God. Here many souls were awa- 
kened and brought to the knowledge of the truth; 
and when the new chapel was opened, the good 
work continued to increase and prosper, till they 
were under the necessity of having it enlarged. 
Perhaps Mr. Bramwell, in all his travels, never 
saw more glorious displays of the Divine power 
than in this circuit. A great concern for religion 
discovered itself among all ranks; and many 
were 'brought out of darkness into marvellous 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 163 

light.' The societies were united and edified; 
'and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the 
comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied/ 
The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified ; and 
several Deists renounced their infidelity, and 
found redemption in the precious blood of Christ. 
Provisions at that time were extremely high ; but 
the minds of the people were borne above all, and 
our social meetings were spiritual, instructive, and 
delightful. The increase of the societies during 
the two years I travelled with him, was about one 
thousand persons; and the circuit was afterward 
divided into three. " 

The following important details are communi- 
cated by Mr. John Clark, of Nottingham : — ■ 

"I was well acquainted with Mr. Bramwell 
during the three years of his travelling in our cir- 
cuit. I watched his conduct narrowly, that I 
might, if possible, discover some flaw in a charac- 
ter so celebrated for holiness. But, after a strict 
observance of his actions and deportment for a 
length of time, I was compelled to draw this con- 
clusion, — I have never yet seen his equal. 

" I never saw in him anything like duplicity or 
partiality. No : I believe he loved all men and 
feared none. His preaching abilities were not of 
the common kind. His texts were wisely chosen, 
and his subjects well arranged. It never was any 
part of his consideration, 'In which of my dis- 
courses do I appear to the greatest advantage V 
13ut the inquiry in his closet was, ' What do these 
people need V His grand maxim was to adapt 
his sermons to the condition of his hearers ; and 



164 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

this is one reason why his ministry was so success- 
ful. His discourses were plain, pointed, and ex- 
perimental. They were generally accompanied 
with the demonstration and power of the Holy 
Grhost. I heard nearly all the sermons which 
he preached in the town of Nottingham, 
and do not recollect having once had a barren 
season, except at one time when he was lame, 
and could not stand to preach. I have often 
seen a congregation of two thousand people so af- 
fected under his preaching as to be unable to re- 
strain their feelings, till tears have afforded some 
relief. It was impossible that any one could sit 
under him without being benefited. Ingenious 
and clear in his ideas, he had always something 
new, and never preached two sermons alike. 

" I attribute the greater portion of his success 
in the ministry to his diligence in prayer. It 
seemed as though, when he was closeted with the 
King of kings, he had the varied states of the 
people unveiled to him in a manner the most re- 
markable. Thus was he qualified to direct <a 
word in season' to each of his hearers. He en- 
tered most minutely into their experience. In 
his preaching he could dissect the mind and feel- 
ings of all his congregation, and disclose his actual 
condition to every individual. 

u Mr. Bramwell did not blend the doctrines of 
the gospel together, and thus form them into one 
confused mass which nobody was capable of un- 
derstanding. In a very masterly manner, he dis- 
played distinctly the attributes of God, the fall of 
man, the doctrine of free grace, the great atone- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 165 

ment of Christ, repentance toward God, and faith 
in the blessed sacrifice of Christ, in order to be 
justified from the guilt of sin, and from the con- 
demning power of the law of God. He was ac- 
customed to maintain "that a sinner who feels 
himself thus redeemed and justified is <a babe in 
Christ/ and only a babe. It was necessary, there- 
fore, he insisted, that this incipient believer 
should hold fast the beginning of his confidence 
without wavering, and go on to be perfected in love, 
till he obtained the Divine nature, and recovered 
the blessed image of God. These were the doc- 
trines which Mr. Bramwell constantly pressed on 
his hearers. He was very desirous that they 
should ascertain the ground on which they stood, 
as it regarded their religious experience. 

"He never would address a lazy, insensible 
company. He would neither allow children to 
cry during the time of Divine service, nor any 
one to look around at the door and gaze on pass- 
ing objects. If they did not appear inclined to 
give him their undivided attention, he would in- 
stantly desist, accounting it no personal mark of 
disrespect to himself, but a sort of contumely 
poured on the gospel. It was his expressed de- 
termination not to preach to a people who trifled 
with the word of God. This commendable prac- 
tice produced a degree of solemnity in the people, 
that assisted him much in the* impressions that he 
wished to make. 

" He labored to promote the sanctification of 
his hearers, both by his addresses in the pulpit, 
and his faithful instructions in private. To ac- 



166 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

complish this great object, he fasted, watched, 
and prayed, in season and out of season, both day 
and night. The fervency of his prayers, and the 
greatness of his zeal, were unparalleled. While 
he was with us at Nottingham, it was his regular 
practice to rise at four o'clock in the morning 
during the summer months, and at five in the win- 
ter. The first of his waking hours was devoted 
to earnest intercessions in behalf of his family and 
friends, the Church, and the world, and for a 
blessing on his own ministry. The next hour he 
attended the morning prayer-meeting : but if it 
was a day on which there was none, he would re- 
main in his study, reading the Scriptures, and 
studying for the edification of his flock. In this 
manner he spent the forenoon of every day, sea- 
soning all his exercises with much prayer. The 
whole of the afternoon was generally appropriated 
to visiting the sick and poor of the society. Into 
whatever house he went, it was a point of con- 
science with him not to leave it without praying. 
It appeared as though he could scarcely bear 
to live unless he was made useful. He often 
entreated the Lord that he might be delivered 
from that bitter cup — a useless life. Indeed, 
his feelings were such as cannot be described. 
I have frequently heard him declare in meet- 
ings that he could almost wish i himself ac- 
cursed from Christ/ if souls might but be saved. 
"How often have we heard him, as in an 
agony, wrestle with God for the distressed ! And 
when they have obtained deliverance, how has he 
been filled * unutterably full of glory and of God V 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 167 

At such seasons, his countenance has shone as 
with a heavenly radiance, his eyes have sparkled 
like flames of fire, his whole frame has been full 
of animation, and I have heard him say that he 
felt as though he could then lift up ' all the apos- 
tate race of man' to God. I shall always remem- 
ber the first renewal of our covenant, at which 
Mr. Bramwell presided. After the excellent 
terms of our renewed engagements had been 
read, Mr. Henry Longden, Sen., from Sheffield, 
spoke to the congregation and prayed. Several 
others joined in the like exercises. After all, 
Mr. Bramwell engaged in prayer, when he ap- 
peared to lay such hold of the Almighty as to 
prevail with him for a blessing. The glory of 
God descended on all the society present in such a 
powerful manner as I never before experienced. 
Many were so affected, that, at the conclusion of the 
service, they could not come down the gallery 
stairs without assistance. That was the begin- 
ning of good days at Nottingham. 

" I was once attacked by a violent pleuritic 
fever, when all around me despaired of my life. 
Many of our kind friends visited me in my afflic- 
tion ; and almost unceasing supplication was of- 
fered up to God for my recovery. But all prayers 
appeared to be without effect till Mr. Bram- 
well came home out of the circuit. He immedi- 
ately came to see me, and on entering the room, 
was quite astonished at beholding such a woeful 
change in my appearance. He thought I had 
all the marks of a speedy dissolution upon me; 
and giving me a look of the greatest sympathy, he 



168 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

raised my head a little higher by means of a pillow. 
He then went to the foot of the bed, and began 
to pray to God in my behalf. His faith seemed 
to gain ground as he proceeded. He continued 
his intercessions with the greatest fervency ; and, 
in an agony, asked, in submission to the will of 
God, that I might be restored. The Lord heard 
and answered his servant's prayers; for I im- 
mediately experienced such a sweet tranquillity 
and melting of soul, as I am unable to describe. 
From that moment my recovery commenced, and 
I was soon strong enough to resume my ordinary 
occupations. Thus Mr. Bramwell might be said 
to be possessed of a key that opened heaven 
and drew the blessing down. 

a He walked and talked with God : his hourly 
communion was with his Maker. Many are the 
blessings, temporal and spiritual, which have been 
procured by his prayers. I attribute all our great 
national deliverances to the united entreaties of 
such men as Mr. Bramwell. When Bonaparte 
threatened our happy land, our departed friend 
made the subject not only matter of private 
prayer, but introduced it into his public interces- 
sions. Who can ever forget the confident man- 
ner in which he at those times expressed himself ? 
He was always particularly earnest in his suppli- 
cations for the health and long life of our good 
old king. 

"As a superintendent, his conduct was most 
exemplary. He was anxious to know what pro- 
ficiency the people made in religion. To ascer- 
tain this, he met the society in every country 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 169 

place where he went, and requested his itinerant 
brethren to do the same. The local preachers 
were also desired to meet every society in the 
various places in which they preached. He was 
determined, by one means or other, to know all 
the members of society, and how they conducted 
themselves. He detested slander in all its forms, 
and would therefore never allow any one to speak 
evil of an absent person. Adhering to the scrip- 
tural direction, ' Tell him his fault between thee 
and him alone/ he never suffered any difference 
between brethren to be introduced into the lead- 
ers' meeting, unless the parties had spoken to 
each other about the matter in private. When 
any affair was brought forward in that meeting, 
he studied to settle it with as few words as possi- 
ble, avoiding all debates and cavils which tend to 
mischief. If any one in his remarks wandered 
from the point in discussion, Mr. Bramwell al- 
ways interrupted him, and would not let him con- 
found others by extraneous subjects. We never 
had an unpleasant meeting upon business during 
the whole of the three years that he spent with 
us. When any thing unpleasant offered itself, 
he had both wisdom and courage to act in a dis- 
creet and prompt manner, and thus the business 
was at once settled. 

" On quarter-days and other public occasions, 
it was his wish to have secular concerns dispatched 
with all convenient speed; and to spend the 
remainder of the time in earnest, social prayer. 
From such meetings the local preachers and coun- 
try leaders departed happy and comfortable, 



170 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

praising God for the enjoyments which they had 
experienced. It was his constant endeavor to 
stimulate to action all men that held an office in 
the Church, and to make them view the cause of 
Grod as their own. Formality and stillness were 
his dread : he was afraid that they would produce 
a sleepy and lukewarm spirit. 

" How great was his charity to his Christian 
brethren ! I have heard him declare that he 
should delight in 'having all things common/ 
as the primitive believers had after the day of 
Pentecost. He was ever inclined to ' do good 
unto all men, especially unto them who were of 
the household of faith/ To share his last penny 
with one of the poor of Christ's family, was 
with him a circumstance by no means uncommon. 
He would never consent to have more than one 
suit of clothes, and one pair of shoes, in a course 
of wearing at a time. And as soon as they be- 
gan to have a worn appearance, he bought new 
ones, and gave the old ones to those who were in 
need. In manifesting his sympathy with the 
poor and afflicted, he ' wept with those that wept.' 
When any of the society had acted in an impro- 
per manner, so as to disgrace their profession, 
and, in the execution of Church discipline, were 
excluded from the body, he was disconsolate, and 
frequently mourned over them as a man that had 
been bereaved of his only son." 

In the Nottingham Circuit, it is seen Mr. 
Bramwell was again honored with a third year's 
appointment, which proved very beneficial to that 
society. Although his labors were eminently 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 171 

blessed, yet from the following letter to the late 
pious Mrs. Baiston, of Leeds, it seems that preach- 
ing and other pastoral duties were " weariness 
and pain to slothful flesh and blood." It is sin- 
gular, too, that, twenty years prior to his death, 
he should have an impression on his mind that 
his departure out of this world would be sudden. 

LETTER IX. 

TO MUS. BAISTON.. 

"Nottingham, May 23, 1799. 

" My Dear Sister : — I have promised to 
write to you, but ! how slow in performing ! 
This, God knows, is too much like my other 
works — done with reluctance. I have sometimes 
thought much on this head, — whether I shall re- 
ceive so bright a crown as those who so readily 
enter into the greatest matters. To preach, to 
pray, etc., etc., continues to be my daily cross. 
Lord ! thy work and will be done in me, and by 
me, more heartily. 

" My faith, my love to Jesus, my union with 
the saints, and my prospect of glory, increase daily. 
For some weeks past I have been seeking to 
be ready at any instant. I have received a per- 
suasion that I shall go in a moment. Whether 
this be from my Father or not, I feel it has a 
good effect upon my mind : I live for him. Do, 
my dear sister, pray, — 'yea, always in private 
pray, that my soul may receive and retain all the 
glory ! Amen, Lord Jesus ! 

" I hope you will still care for the feeblest 



172 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

child, the tenderest lamb. Never forget you 
were once weak, — wanting every prop, every 
prayer. Look well to the lambs. Your great 
work is to nourish these and lead them on to 
glory. But at the same time view the blessing 
which is prepared. Hunger, thirst, cry mightily 
to G-od for all he has to give. I am persuaded 
many draw back after the cleansing touch ; and 
the cause generally is, their not determining to 
receive the whole. ! see St. Paul — ' I reach 
forward ;' hence, 'I have kept the faith/ You 
have received blessings of the greatest value in 
their nature; but these may all be increased a 
hundred-fold. ! I want you to live in the holy 
place, in the nearest union, in the greatest glory, 
being changed from one degree of it into another. 

" I have thought that if I am spared, I may 
receive in one month a double weight. I find 
all things removed that would hinder, all things 
at work to my help ; and I have confidence that 
I shall pursue to the utmost the great salvation. 
What have we done? All seems nothing. I 
have stood to look back on all my works ; but I 
cannot fix my mind on one that yields joy. 
I instantly look to Jesus, and in him I do re- 
joice. Lord, save me ! save my dear family ! 
save my friends ! save thy Church ! Amen, 
Lord Jesus ! 

" I do and shall ever thank Grod for your habi- 
tation, and the mercy under your roof. Our kind 
love to dear Mr. Baiston. Pray on! pray 
more ! I will join you. 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 173 

The subjoined letters to Mr. Thomas Jackson, 
of Dewsbury, and to Miss Barrett, show his 
spirituality of mind, his zeal for God, and his 
tenderness of conscience : 

LETTER X. 

TO MR. THOMAS JACKSON. 

" Nottingham, June 21, 1799. 

" My Dear Brother : — If I had not pro- 
mised, I should scarcely have ventured to write 
by the post. I thank God that you have peace 
and love restored. ! continue it with all pros- 
perity ! The Lord save you, your family, and the 
whole society ! Give our dear love to them all. 
God is with us. I am nearer the throne ; and 
never was so dependent on Jesus : He is my all, 
bless the Lord: — God is working; but we want 
greater things. I trust we shall see such glory 
as we have not yet done. Do tell your dear wife 
we love her in the Lord and shall pray for her. 
! may she be the mother in your little church. 
My brother, live every moment in the spirit of 
prayer. Preach in the same power. Take cour- 
age, and work for your God. Amen ! 

" Write to me soon, and let me know every 
thing. Continue to pray for me. Be faithful to 
me. I must have a clear conscience in every 
thing. I can do nothing because others do it. 
! may I keep my soul pure ! Lord, stand by 
me and the Church for ever ! 

" I am your servant in Jesus, 

" Wm. Br am well." 
15* 



174 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER XI. 

TO MR. THOMAS JACKSON. 

"Nottingham, September 4, 1799. 

" My Dear Brother : — I thank you for your 
friendly letter ; and I praise God that you con- 
tinue to pray for me; which I hope you will 
ever do, till we meet in glory. I am striving 
with continued prayer to live nearer to God than 
I have ever done ; and he brings my soul into 
closer union : I live with Jesus; he is my all. 
O ! he lays me at his feet. I am less than no- 
thing in his sight. 

" This walking with God ! this conversation in 
heaven ! ! how I am ashamed ! I sink in 
silent love. I wonder how the Lord has ever 
borne with me so long. I never had such a 
view of God and myself. I pray that every 
moment of my life may show forth his praise. 
Praise him for ever ! Do give my love to Mr. 
Miller. The Lord will make him a great bless- 
ing to you all. Pray for him, and help him all 
you can. Your circuit, I believe, will arise. — * 
May the Lord send you salvation, and may all 
the circuit praise him ! 

" I pray that grace and peace may be multi- 
plied among you all ! The Lord is working in 
town and country ; but we wait for greater things 
than these. Come, Lord Jesus ! Come quickly. 
Amen ! 

" I am yours affectionately, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR Or W. BRAMWELL. 175 

LETTER XII. 

TO MISS BARRETT. 

"Nottingham, September 27, 1800. 

"I write to you, my dear friend and com- 
panion in the tribulation of Jesus, our common 
Lord and Saviour; who is, and shall be, our 
glory, in this world, and in that which is to 
come ! I am waiting for my place with earnest 
longing ; and am truly desirous of being near my 
blessed Lord. I am more than ever convinced 
of this truth, that the degrees in heaven will 
astonish thousands. And should not we see our 
privileges on earth ? ! let us labor with this 
view every day. We have not long to work; 
and, therefore, may we suffer all his will ! 

u I am enabled to consider your calling, and 
how much you may be drawn from your own pur- 
pose. In this I say, ' Thy will be done !' 

u Please inform us of the time of your coming, 
and so abide ; because many are kept in a state 
of suspense, which is rather uncomfortable for us. 

" We are unworthy : I feel this ! Yet G-od is 
among the people, saving and filling. But we 
want you; and GJ-od will come with you. Do 
come immediately, and let me know the time. 
Our love to you and all friends. 

" Yours, etc., 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



176 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER XIII. 

* 

TO MISS BABBETT. 

"Taghill, Nottingham, October 16, 1800. 

" My Dear Sister : — I was much affected 
when I came home and found you were gone ; 
especially as we had both promised for Dunning- 
ton Circuit and Leicester, and thousands were 
waiting for you at Mount Sorrel. There is such 
an opening for you in that country as I never 
saw before. 

"I bless God that you ever came among us. 
Were it in the order of God, I should not have 
the least objection to stand by you in every place 
till we take our seats in glory. Pray for us every 
day. I trust I shall ever pray for you. 

" I have had a powerful season at Bulwell ; 
several souls saved. The same at Watnal, and 
last night at Eastwood. Glory, glory, glory to 
God ! Please write to me soon, and tell me of 
your journeys and labors in every place. The 
Lord bless you all ! and may thousands be saved ! 
"Yours, etc., 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OB W. BRAMWELL. 177 



CHAPTER X. 

Mr. Bramwell is appointed to travel in Leeds — His great popularity 
and usefulness — His qualifications for the ministry — Letters- 
Some severe trials — Begins to travel in the Wetherby Circuit, 
and afterward in Hull — Anecdotes — Letters. 

In 1801, the Conference was held at Leeds. 
Many of the friends in this town were particu- 
larly desirous of having Mr. Bramwell stationed 
here. Their request was granted by Conference, 
as a favor ; and Messrs. Barber and Reece were 
appointed his colleagues. Previous to his arrival, 
many had entertained unfavorable sentiments 
concerning his ministerial talents; and, indeed, 
the opinion has perhaps been too prevalent, that 
if a man enter heartily into what has been termed 
the revival, or, in other words," if he encourage 
prayer-meetings, and exhort plain simple people 
to unite in carrying on the work of Grod, this is a 
manifest proof of his being a person of only ordi- 
nary abilities. Now, were this sentiment actually 
correct, it would only prove that the Lord is 
pleased at times to " choose the foolish things of 
the world to confound the wise." But the senti- 
ment is extremely erroneous; for it is a fact 
which none will be disposed to question, that Mr. 
Wesley was a man of the most profound erudi- 
tion, and it is well known that he was the decided 



178 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

friend and advocate of the work of G-od. No one 
can peruse his journals, which have been very 
properly called a " History of Revivals/' without 
being convinced of the truth of this remark. Mr. 
Bramwell had not, however, been long in the 
circuit before the mist of prejudice was com- 
pletely dispelled; and he was soon regarded as 
an eminent minister of the gospel. 

From my great and close intimacy with him, I 
had frequent opportunities of judging of his 
intellectual qualifications, and I think it proper 
here to state, that he had acquired an extensive 
acquaintance with the arts and sciences, could 
read the Scriptures in their original tongues,* 
and had obtained a knowledge of the French 
language. 

Considering his disadvantages during the early 
part of his life, it will be readily granted that he 
could not have mean ideas of human learning:. 

o 

How many laborious days, perhaps years, must 
he have spent in obtaining those ministerial abili- 
ties which, through Divine grace, rendered him 
so useful in the Church. He was a good ser- 
monizer, and no one was more orthodox or pure 
in the doctrines which he taught. They who 
did not attend minutely to his sermons, not rea- 
dily perceiving his divisions, the formality of 
which he always despised, considered them as 
rhapsodies without connection. But he never 

* To render the Hebrew letters familiar to him, he 
was accustomed for some time to write his journal in 
the characters of that language. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 179 

preached without a plan j and his mode of treat- 
ing subjects was often ingenious and original. 
His ardor for the salvation of sinners, and the 
assistance which he received from the Holy 
Spirit, frequently exalted him above all formal 
preachers. Because he was eminently holy and 
faithful, the Most High condescended to render 
his preaching effectual to an amazing and un- 
wonted extent. That he had good natural 
talents, is unquestionable; but the entire aban- 
donment of the wish to shine, was the most con- 
summate victory he ever achieved over the flesh. 
It was his glory to render himself a servant to 
all, so that he might win souls. He saw that the 
heart remained unchanged after the most studied 
harangues and eloquent orations. The weapons 
he wielded were, the mighty arms of faith and 
prayer; and when he beheld Satan's kingdom 
falling and crumbling beneath their powerful 
energy, he scorned all adventitious aids, consider- 
ing ornament as the destruction of their simpli- 
city and effect. 

He was frequently consulted both concerning 
temporal and spiritual things ; and many derived 
peculiar benefit from his judicious and very 
friendly advice. He well knew how to " conde- 
scend to men of low estate/' and the poorest 
members of a society could approach him without 
the least embarrassment. Far from assuming an 
air of consequence or superiority while in the 
company of the humblest followers of Christ, he 
endeavored, by his endearing and affable conduct, 
to convince them that he was a friend and a 



180 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

brother. Abhorring the fashionable practice of 
pretending not to know a poor man in the streets, 
he heartily greeted him. And if his advice was 
sought about any matter, he would, if disengaged, 
stand and give it : if he was busy, he would kindly 
inform the person that he could not then be de- 
tained, but would see him at any other oppor- 
tunity. Some who were poor and godly, occa- 
sionally invited him to take tea with them. He 
always went if he was at liberty. Several friends 
and neighbors usually assembled, and great was 
the enjoyment which they had in each other's 
company. To the sick he was peculiarly atten- 
tive ; and he made it his business to call on every 
Methodist family in the town, and also on as 
many in the country as he could conveniently visit. 

It may not be uninteresting here to record an 
instance of his pastoral advice, given to three 
members of the society, who were band-mates, 
one of whom has communicated the following 
particulars : "Well knowing that Mr. Bramwell 
was a man mighty in prayer, they were very 
desirous of conversing with him on that important 
subject. They accordingly waited upon him, at 
his own house, early one morning, and asked him 
the following questions : 

1. In private prayer, we sometimes feel power 
to wrestle with the Lord for increasing salvation 
for ourselves, and for the extension of the king- 
dom of Christ ; at other times we feel no such 
power, but rather are distracted, and our minds 
wander from the point in hand. What should 
we do in the latter case ? 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 181 

2. If we do not feel much liberty in prayer, 
should we nevertheless continue in the posture 
of kneeling? 

3. Is what is called by some "burning love/' 
to be attained gradually or instantaneously ? 

To these inquiries Mr. Bramwell very conde- 
scendingly made the following replies : 

"Fii-st.- — When we find distraction in private 
prayer, we are often called upon to fight and 
wrestle, in order to obtain <a mind stayed upon 
God/ And sometimes when it is suggested that 
we should do something else, viz., read, etc., we 
ought resolutely to persevere in the path of duty; 
and when we conquer through Christ, those sea- 
sons are often the most profitable. 

"Secondly. — Should we, however, still feel 
dissipated, we might then rise, and walk up and 
down in the room, and sing, or read some portion 
of the word of God, and then kneel down and 
pray again. Or if the body be weak, we may 
occasionally pray standing, or even sitting. 

"Thirdly. — t Burning love/ that is, a warm 
glowing feeling in the heart, is no necessary con- 
sequence upon full salvation. It may exist with 
or without it. It is seldom given for more than 
a day or two ; and then often previous to some 
peculiar trial, or some extraordinary outpouring 
of the Spirit/' 

Dr. Doddridge and some other pious men have 
thought that vocal closet prayer is a practice to 
be preferred by some persons to silent mental 
devotion, because it tends to keep the attention 
awake, and preserve the thoughts from wander- 
16 



182 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

ing. Mr. Bramwell was of the same opinion, 
and indulged in this beloved spiritual exercise 
whenever he had an opportunity. Before five 
o'clock in the morning, he has been heard thus 
engaged in his own garden, by many persons, as 
they have been passing to their employment at 
that early hour. He seems to have resorted to 
this practice when his fervent soul has been par- 
ticularly led out in strong desire to praise Him 
whom it was his delight to magnify. 

Herd-farm, near Harewood, the residence of 
Richard Leak, Esq., was one of Mr. BramwelPs 
favorite places, when he was in this circuit. At 
the hospitable mansion of that respected gentle- 
man, our ministers were accustomed, once in two 
weeks, to remain all night, after having preached 
at Allwoodley Gates. The situation is most de- 
lightful. Placed on a gentle eminence, the house 
is, at a small distance, nearly encircled on three 
of its sides by a fine wood, that gradually rises to 
a proud elevation above it. Penetrating into the 
depths of its most umbrageous retreats, Mr. 
Bramwell poured forth the feelings of his heart in 
loud and fervent supplications before the God of 
heaven. The tones of his strong and mellifluous 
voice reverberated through all the dells and 
glades ; while the wild inmates of the wood were 
scared at " sounds unknown before." But they 
were the sounds of thanksgiving as well as those 
of entreaty. He has frequently been engaged 
there for four hours together, till some branch of 
the family, loath to disturb his devotions, has ven- 
tured into his beloved solitude, and invited him 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 183 

to partake of the prepared repast. Always gentle 
and obliging, he complied with the request; 
though the heavenly abstraction of his mind at 
such seasons seemed to say, U I have meat to eat 
that ye know not of!" His voice was the clue 
by which they could generally discover the part 
which he had chosen for retirement; because 
when not engaged in prayer, which act he reve- 
rently performed on his bended knees, his medi- 
tations could be indistinctly heard, for they were 
the utterance of the heart expressed aloud while 
he walked along the winding paths in the wood, 
almost every corner of which, being bounded by 
streams, was favorable to echo. 

Many were the points of resemblance between 
Mr. Bramwell and the Rev. Joseph Alleine, 
author of the "Alarm to the Unconverted;" and 
in nothing was this more apparent than in their 
mutual love of privacy for the purposes of prayer 
and praise. Mr. Alleine's biographer relates 
concerning him, " He spent a considerable part 
of his time in private converse with God and his 
own soul : he delighted very much to perform 
his secret devotions in the view of heaven, and in 
the open air, when he could find advantages fit 
for his purpose. He used to keep many days 
alone, and then a private room would not content 
him, but, if he could, he would withdraw himself 
to a solitary house, that had no inhabitant in it. 
And herein he was gratified often by some private 
friends of his, to whom he did not impart his 
design : perhaps it was, that he might freely use 



184 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

his voice as his affections led hi'm, without such 
prudential considerations and restraints as would 
have been necessary in another place ; and that 
he might converse with God without any avoca- 
tion or distraction."* 

" Neither did he so gaze upon and adore Christ 
his Redeemer, and his redemption, as to forget to 
sound forth the praises of God the Creator. For 
often he hath been heard, with admiration and 
praise, to take notice of the Divine power and 
wisdom in the works of creation ; and therefore 
in the open air, in the private retirement of some 
field or wood, he delighted to address himself to 
G-od in praise, that his eyes might affect his heart, 
and awake his glory. And here often he has 
been heard to say, that man was the tongue of the 
whole creation, appointed as the creature's inter- 
preter, to speak forth and make articulate the 
praises which they but silently intimate. "f 

"And, indeed, had not his zeal for God's glory 
and the salvation of souls engaged him so much 
to an active life, he could have even lived and 
died wholly in Divine contemplation and adora- 
tion ; so much did he delight to shrink within 
himself, and to abandon the view of the desperate 
adventures and antic motions of a mad world; 
that so, being shut to these, he might only open 
his soul to God and glory, displaying it to the 
glorious beams of the Sun of righteousness. 
Therefore did he often delight in his devotion to 

* Alleine's Life and Letters, page 45. f Ibid, 168. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 185 

converse with the fowls of the air ; and the beasts 
of the field, since these were more innocent and 
less degenerate than man. 

" With streams and plants did he delight to 
walk, and all these did utter to his attentive ear 
the praise and knowledge of his Creator; and in 
his unsettled sojournings from place to place, he 
did often, to use his words, look back with sweet- 
ness and great content on the places of his former 
pleasant retirements, setting, as it were, a mark 
upon those which had marvellously pleased him 
in his solitudes, by administering to his contem- 
plative delight."* 

"All the time of his health he did rise con- 
stantly at or before four o'clock, and on the Sab- 
bath sooner, if he did wake. He would be much 
troubled if he heard any smiths, or shoemakers, or 
such tradesmen, at work at their trades before he 
was in his duties with God -, saying to me often, 
'0 how this noise shames me! Doth not my 
Master deserve more than theirs V "f 

Mr. Brani well's earnestness in preaching, and 
his powerful and successful pleadings at a throne 
of grace, soon attracted general attention. From 
his commencement at Leeds, nothing would satisfy 
him but to see the arm of the Lord revealed in 
the awakening and conversion of sinners. For 
this he wept, studied, fasted, prayed and preached. 
Like the Prophet Isaiah, he often exclaimed, 
"For Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and 
for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the 

* Alleine's Life and Letters, page 166. f Ibid, 170. 
16* 



186 MEMOIR OF W. BEAM WELL. 

righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and 
the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." 
It was not long before he saw the fruit of his 
labors : the Lord poured out his Spirit : numbers 
were awakened : believers were quickened, and a 
very general revival took place in the society. 

During the first year of his labors at Leeds, all 
the preachers were united in the work of God ; 
and, according to the minutes of Conference, there 
had been an increase of three hundred and seventy- 
one members. The following letters will show the 
state of Mr. Bramwell's mind at that period. The 
first was addressed to Mrs. Bramwell when she was 
at Kingswood for the purpose of seeing her three 
sons. She was detained there longer than she 
intended, in consequence of being bitten by a dog. 

LETTER XIV. 

TO MRS. BRAMWELL. 

"Leeds, September 5, 1801. 

" My Dear Ellen : — I am sorry, but I wait 
and instantly give you into the Lord's hands. I 
hope you are better. But do not attempt to come 
too soon, lest you should inflame your leg, and 
thereby make it so much longer in healing. 

" I am still giving myself to continual prayer. 
I want you much ; but the Lord knows how to 
try me, and his will be done ! Write again imme- 
diately. — You will find a letter from me at Mr. 
Tatham's. In your next, tell me exactly how 
your leg is. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 187 

" may I have power to wait for you with all 
patience and confidence in the Lord! — I have 
many things to say to you. I hope our heavenly 
union will increase yet more and more. Amen ! 
Were I to give way to my feelings, I should 
immediately come to see you. I am nearer 
heaven than ever ; and this enables me to say, 
' The Lord does all things well/ I pray for you 
continually. get much more, before you see me. 
" I am yours, most affectionately, 

« Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER XV. 

TO MISS BARRETT. 

" Thorner, November 17, 1801. 

" My Dear Sister Barrett : — I heard of 
your being at Rochdale with success. I under- 
stand you have freedom at Manchester. You 
will do well in not staying there too long, except 
you visit other circuits, and then return for a 
season. 

" I have long thought that your labors may be 
attended with greater and more lasting blessings, 
in the following way : — Suppose you were to con- 
clude sooner in the evening, go to rest sooner, 
and sometimes meet all that would come in the 
morning. A number who receive good through 
your labors, and who love you, sink deep into 
.sloth from your example of lying in bed. Not 
considering your labors, but following your prac- 
tice as a plea, they afterward sink a whole society. 



188 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

I think this may be prevented. Unless the 
people improve time, they never can stand long; 
and the greatest mean in the world is rising 
early, and spending some time with the Lord 
before worldly business commences. I want all 
your fruit to abide, or, at least, the greater part. 

"Now, as the great work of our salvation de- 
pends on our diligence, and as the people will 
look at our example, even years after we leave 
them, is it not possible that you and all of us may 
show this example to the churches ? But there 
can be no harm in trying; and this is the least 
you can do. First, to dismiss the people, — all 
who choose to go after preaching. Then, to have 
what kind of meeting you choose, but to dismiss 
them again in an hour. Then, to go yourself 
positively. If any remain in distress, leave the 
work in the hands of others. Retire, and as soon 
as you have got supper, go to rest ; having pre- 
viously published that you will meet all that will 
come, either in the chapel or in some house in the 
morning. Let this be sometimes done, but never 
lie long in the morning, unless you be sick. You 
will stand your labor better, by being often at it, 
than by being too long at the same time. 

" God is working at Leeds, and in some other 
places. We have drops. 

"I beg you will write immediately, and let me 
know the state of the churches. I am praying 
for you. I am seeking to be ready. 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 189 

LETTER XVI. ' 

TO MISS BARRETT. 

" My Dear Sister Barrett : — From a full 
persuasion of your call in an extraordinary way, 
and believing that the design of God concerning 
you is to spread the flame of heavenly love in 
our Connection, — I write to you with all freedom 
on a certain subject, which has given me much 
concern. I understand you have some serious 
thoughts about marrying. I am led to think that 
this proceeding would prevent the design of the 
Almighty concerning you. 

" Fully understand me : I do not mean that it 
is wrong to marry, but I think it would prevent 
in you the answering that great end of your call. 

" In the first place, your situation would be- 
come local. Now, I am certain that this is not 
your place with respect to doing general good. 
You would soon become in a great degree useless. 

" In the next place, you may have the cares of 
a family; but you would not have that influence 
among numbers of your own sex. 

"I conceive you can only think of altering 
your state upon one ground, — and that is, ' I am 
become obsolete ! My work is done ! I am shut 
out ! I can do no more ! I am called to give it 
up.' If you think so, I think differently. A 
number of places will yet receive you; and I 
think your way is more open this Conference than 
it ever has been. I beg that you will write me 
all your heart ; and, if you please, I will imme- 



190 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

diately consume your letter after reading it, and 
will keep the whole in my own mind. 

"As I am concerned for you, write soon. 

11 1 am quite ignorant at the present why the 
Lord has kept me here. Things are low indeed 
in this circuit ; and means must have been used 
to make them as they are. Of this we will say 
nothing ; only, pray for me. 

" I must in a few weeks, if spared, strike home, 
and leave the whole to God. I see hell will rise; 
but our God is almighty. Keep this letter in 
your own mind. I beg that you will come this 
way and go with me to several places before you 
go, or as you go to Nottingham. I have found 
much fruit in Birstal Circuit. The Lord bless 
you. Amen ! 

" Yours, etc., 

u Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XVII. 

TO MRS. BRAMWELL. 

"Harewood, April 14, 1802. 

My Dear Ellen : — I received your letter — 
am thankful to our Heavenly Father for his care 
over you. All things are in peace at Leeds. I 
think twenty received liberty when Mr. Miller 
was there. I am much better of my cold ; but 
not well in my back, yet, I think, no worse. 

" You must do all you can this journey : leave 
nothing undone. Write immediately, and let 
me know when you will come home. I am not 



MEMOIR OF W. BEAM WELL. 191 

certain that I can meet you, but will, if possible. 
It has been much on my mind, that you may live 
as Ann Cutler, and I as John Fletcher. Let us 
follow them, and begin immediately. I believe 
I have a call for us both. 

u that God may save some of that family. 
" I am yours affectionately, 
" William Bramwell." 

LETTER XVIII. 

TO MB. TAFT. 

" Leeds, May 27, 1802. 

" My Dear Brother : — You must have no 
doubt upon your mind respecting my regard for 
you and yours. I am ever the same toward you 
both, though I have not written so frequently as 
I ought to have done. I never was more em- 
ployed than I have been this year. 

" I suppose Mary is gone from Margate. I 
hope light will shine upon her path in all things ; 
and nothing can be better than to wait and 
see every open door of Providence. The Lord 
sent her into Kent. I see your union was of 
God. In several things I am so persuaded, 
that I have never had the least uneasiness on 
this head. 

" No great work can be done without much 
opposition. Never look for peace while you pro- 
claim war. I do not know how things will turn 
out at Manchester. But the Lord reigneth ; and 
he is, I am sure, our God. Fear none of those 
things. Stand still, and see the salvation of God. 



192 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

I often do the most in doing nothing. Pray 
much, and for me — especially at this time. 

" Numbers are saved in Leeds ; but I do not 
see one yard before me. Grod must provide, or 
all is over ! But he will. Faith claims him for 
our all. Yours, as ever, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

Considering Mr. BramwelPs ardent desire for 
the salvation of men, how must he have rejoiced 
to see Zion in prosperity, and the society dwell- 
ing in amity and peace ! But alas ! how imper- 
fect is our knowledge of futurity ! Yery soon 
after having written the two preceding letters, he 
was called to meet a most tremendous storm. It 
is certainly a wise ordination of Providence, that 
we know not what shall happen to us on the 
morrow. It is probable that if mankind had a 
clear view of the trials and difficulties with which 
they might have to contend during their pilgrimage 
through this checkered scene, life would prove a 
burden too heavy for many to bear. It is there- 
fore highly becoming to bow to the almighty 
Disposer of all events, and, instead of wishing to 
pry into futurity, to endeavor patiently to submit 
to the dispensations of Providence, improving and 
enjoying the present moment, without anticipat- 
ing future trials. " Sufficient to the day is the 
evil thereof." 

During the last year of his ministry at Leeds, 
Mr. Bramwell was called to peculiar and embar- 
rassing trials, as will appear from the following 
letter : 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 193 

LETTER XIX. 

TO MB. TAFT. 

"Leeds, November 30, 1802. 

" My Dear Taft : — I thank God for the con- 
solation. He has delivered you, and will deliver 
even to the end. Salvation is of the Lord. G-ive 
him all the glory ; and, if you keep quite humble, 
he will preserve you from every word and work 
which has the least tendency to excite disgust. 
You know not what you have to do. One 
day of your life will, in future, tell for ever. Be 
always on your watch-tower, and continue in 
prayer, and you will see greater things than 
these. 

" I see still greater things in Leeds. Many 
are saved in the town, not so many in the country. 
I have not the help I want. I say sometimes, 
1 Woe is me ! for I am a man beset with opposition 
from all the powers of hell !' You would be sur- 
prised what plans I have discovered to prevent 
the general crush ; but I see shakings through the 
whole. The work does not extend as I could 
wish. Here I mourn and wait the hour. 

" I never lived so much with God as at present. 
I can say, 'My life is prayer, and much in 
agony/ I am waiting for my change; and yet, 
I sometimes think, my greatest work is to come. 
may I be ready for life or death ! 

" I do assure you, you have numbers of friends, 
who will help you and your dear partner, by their 
17 



194 MEMOIR OP W. BR AM WELL. 

prayers. Fear not; and while I fast, you will 
find it needful to live well. Be cheerful and 
thankful. Give my kind love to Mr. and Mrs. 
Grace. Tell Mr. Grace I have never forgotten 
our prayer-meetings in his parlor, how he used 
to wrestle with God. Give my love to my dear 
friend Manger, and to my brethren. Write im- 
mediately, and let me know every thing. 

" Our dear love to sister Taft. I beg that she 
may never faint. I do live, if she stand fast in 
the Lord. 

" I am your most affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell. 

a N. B.— We have had such a work in one 
street as I have seldom seen : many among those 
who were the worst, are now become the best." 

Mr. Bramwell's feelings and conduct during 
the period to which this refers, are so accurately 
described by Mr. Dawson in the funeral sermon 
whieh he preached on the occasion of his death, 
that it will appear quite unnecessary to detail 
them in this place. 

After Mr. Bramwell left Leeds, he was sta- 
tioned in the Wetherby Circuit, at the Conference 
in 1803. He was received by the people with 
the greatest satisfaction. Many were the seals 
of his ministry there j and doubtless he has re- 
joined numbers in the celestial world, to whom, 
while in that circuit, his labors were rendered 
eminently useful. His attention to the general 
duties of the ministry continued constant and 
undeviating. In all things he appeared as a 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 195 

minister of the Lord Jesus, and gave the most in- 
dubitable proofs that the Lord was with him. 

His usual fervor burns in the following let- 
ters : — 

LETTER XX. 

TO MRS. Z. TAFT. 

"Wetherby, 1803. 

" My Dear Sister Taft : — I thank you for 
your letter. I am glad to hear from you, and of 
your well doing. The Lord continue his good- 
ness, and ever succeed your labors with the salva- 
tion of souls ! How kind the Lord has been in 
your deliverance, and in blessing you and the 
dear child ! ! praise him for ever ! The 
Lord continue his goodness to you all, and may 
we all be ready for every event ! 

" Now is the time for receiving the meetness 
for the highest place in glory. I am with all 
my soul striviug every day, and never enjoyed 
greater power and love. Glory ! glory ! 

" In all the conflict the Divine presence was 
with me j and I had a testimony that I was doing 
what the Lord commanded. I shall have the full 
reward, in giving up all, yea, all friends, for that 
season. Pray, ever pray, for me and mine ! We 
love you more than ever. 

" That rule should not have been submitted to. 
This I advise, and had all the friends stood firm, 
it would never have been made. But as it is 
made, and complied with, I would advise you to 
act according to it in every thing, while in the 



196 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

Connection. This is right, — while in the body, 
to submit to all rules made by that body. 

" We want you here : will you come ? Write. 
Mr. Rayson will come for you. I see souls saved 
nearly every night ; but ! the death of this 
circuit ! — every day is an agony to raise any. 
We have had a great love-feast at Wetherby, and 
I expect glory at Keswick next Sunday. 

61 Mr. Wilson and Mr. Rayson' s family, and 
numbers beside, all unite with me in great respect, 
and wish to see you. My wife joins me in love 
to you, to Mr. Taft, and Mary Ann, to your 
brother and sister. I am in haste, but believe me 
to be 

" Your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XXI. 

TO MR. TAFT. 

" Tadcaster, February 24, 1804. 
" My Dear Brother : — I waited long for an 
answer to my letter. I am truly thankful G-od is 
with you, and shall be with you. 0, never 
grieve the Lord ! Watch, pray, and improve 
time to the utmost. Live in all the union, the 
love, the great salvation. Time is short. Be a 
man of Godj — none more holy or more devoted 
to God. I am quite given to him. I feel my 
dependence upon him every moment. I was 
never more dead to all below. My soul is all love 
indeed. Praise my Saviour for ever ! I saw a 
blessed work at Whitby, etc. I see souls saved 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 197 

nearly every night in this circuit. At Wetherby 
not many. 

" I should change with Mr. Nelson a month. 
Mr. Muff has sent for me : scores are saved in his 
circuit, and he is all alive. 

u My wife joins in love, with many friends. I 
think Mrs. Taft should come and show herself 
once more. Write to me, and pray much for me. 
"lam yours, as ever, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

In the year 1804, Mr. Brain well was appointed 
to the Hull Circuit, witn Mr. Griffith and Mr. S. 
Taylor. The preachers were closely united, and 
the work of the Lord prospered. Mr. Bramwell 
labored with all his might to bring souls to Christ. 
His ministry was very acceptable : numbers were 
converted, and the society in general quickened. 
When he was in the country part of the circuit, 
he frequently remained all night, by which means 
he had an opportunity of visiting the members, 
and of speaking to them concerning the great 
work of salvation. In this way his labors were 
rendered eminently useful, because he gained the 
affections of the people, and they were then pre- 
pared to receive instruction, according to their 
peculiar circumstances. In this circuit there 
were many remarkable answers to his fervent 
prayers, one or two of which it may not be im- 
proper to record : — 

In the frost of 1804 and 1805, Mr. Brayshaw, 
of Hull, had the misfortune to fall, and pitch 
unon his ri^ht elbow. Not finding much incon- 
17* 



198 MEMOIR OF W. BR AM WELL. 

venience at the time, he neglected to apply any 
thing to it, until about the middle of February, 
when a mortification ensued. So rapid was its 
progress, that his medical attendants had deter- 
mined to amputate his arm as soon as he should 
have sufficient strength to undergo the operation. 
They probed and laid it open to the bone; but so 
much was nature exhausted, that it was feared at 
every subsequent dressing he would have died. 
An asthmatical cough, to which he had been long 
subject, then suddenly stopped ; a convulsive 
hickup came on ; and all hopes of his recovery 
were lost. His family were called in j he took 
an affectionate leave of them; and gave them, as 
he thought, his last blessing. At this important 
crisis, Messrs. Griffith and Bramwell called to see 
him, as they were going to the select band. Mrs. 
Brayshaw requested they would remember her 
husband at a throne of grace in the band-meeting. 
And while they were engaged at the meeting in 
agonizing prayer for his recovery, Mr. Brayshaw 
began to cough, the hickup left him, and his 
asthmatical cough returned; so that he recovered, 
to the great surprise of all around him. A friend 
called after the band-meeting, and observed 
that she was almost sure that Mr. Brayshaw 
would recover, for there had been such an un- 
common outpouring of the Spirit, accompanied by 
such faith while prayer was made by those men of 
God for his recovery, that she had no doubt con- 
cerning his restoration. The event proved the 
correctness of her opinion; and it was generally 
thought to be a miraculous cure in answer to prayer. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 199 

The following account has been received from 
Mr. Thomas Ryder, local preacher of Thorngum- 
bald :— 

" In the year 1805, our daughter Abigail was 
so very ill of the whooping-cough, that at times she 
appeared to lose her breath, and my wife often 
thought she was dead. Mr. Bramwell was in the 
Hull Circuit; and when in that part of Holder- 
ness where we then lived, he slept in our house. 
At one of his visits, we told him how violently 
our little girl was afflicted. He asked several 
questions concerning her, and then said, 'Let 
us pray V We knelt down, and the man of 
God prayed with peculiar fervor, and apparently 
in strong faith, that the Lord would bless the 
child, and speedily restore her. The Almighty, 
whose eyes are over the righteous, and whose ears 
are open to their prayers, heard and answered the 
prayer of his servant. Our daughter began to 
recover from that hour, and never afterward had 
a severe attack/' 

He was deeply interested in the comfort and 
happiness of those among whom he labored ; and 
it appears very remarkable, that when any of his 
Christian friends were peculiarly tempted or 
called to pass through heavy trials, their afflictions 
were often revealed to him. This will be better 
understood by the following account, transmitted 
by Mr. Everett, who is now stationed in Shef- 
field : — "After being in the country part of the 
circuit, Mr. Bramwell was returning home from 
Cottingham : on arriving in Hull he dismounted 
from his horse, and, instead of going to his own 



200 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

house, as usual, lie went to Mr. Adams's. ' Come/ 
said be to Mrs. Adams, ' tell me the state of your 
mind. You have been unusually impressed upon 
my mind all the way from Cottingham.' Mrs. 
Adams was in very deep distress, occasioned by a 
peculiar temptation under which she was then la- 
boring. When she had stated her case to Mr. 
Brain well, he said to her, ' Let us pray ! for 
the Lord is about to bring deliverance/ They 
knelt down, he wrestled with God, the snare was 
broken, and she was completely delivered." The 
circumstance which renders this account more 
worthy of observation is, that Mr. Bramwell had 
no previous knowledge of her temptation. 

Mr. Triebner, an aged Lutheran minister, fre- 
quently went to the Methodist chapel while Mr. 
Bramwell was in Hull. A friend one day asked 
him, " Mr. Triebner, how do you like Mr. Brani- 
well's preaching?" And possibly anticipating an 
objection, said, " Does he not often wander from 
his subject?" " Yes," replied the venerable old 
gentleman, " he do wander most delightfully from 
de subject to de heart." 

His letters show him to be in this circuit the 
same earnest, heavenly-minded minister of Jesus 
Christ. 

LETTER XXII. 

TO MR. WM. BURROWS. 

"Hull, October, 1804. 
" My Dear Brother : — I hope you are going 
on in the same way, and much increasing in the 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 201 

love of God. Nothing can prevent your receiving 
the mind of Christ. Turn all into this, yea, all 
your concerns. Seek God in all, and acknow- 
ledge hini in all. He will be with you and yours. 
You will have to do all the good you can with the 
greatest patience; and be willing to be blamed 
for your best actions. 'Behold the Lamb of 
God V Live near to him, and be patient in all. 
" I have had three weeks of agony, but now 
see the Lord working. I have not preached 
lately without seeing some fruit of my labor. 
The Lord is saving souls. that nothing may 
hinder ! Pray, pray much for me ! The Lord 
bless you. I remain your brother, 

" Wm. Bram well." 

LETTER XXIII. 

TO MR. CRANSWICK. 

" Hull, November 29, 1804. 
" Dear Brother Cranswick : — I think of 
you and the families every day. I frequently 
want to know how you all are. Satan will use a 
thousand means to damp our love. He will 
strive to make all things bear a gloomy aspect, 
and will tell you that you may as well give it up, 
and that neither Deighton* nor any other place 
will ever be better. But though you cannot save 
all or many, yet one soul saved is of the greatest 
importance. The churches, though small, are of 
infinite value. Bemember your own salvation : 

* Deighton is a village in the Wetherby Circuit, 
where Mr. Cranswick then lived. 



202 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

never sink ! never lose the least prayer. It is 
praying continually that keeps the mind. I am 
more convinced of this than ever. ! let God 
have the first and the last ! Your dear wife and 
all your precious little children are his : strive to 
lay them all in his arms every morning ; make 
the act on your knees. God will answer. He 
will make all your way plain. You will see his 
glory. I know it is a strife indeed, to keep full 
amidst unbelief. .Do all your work about the 
house with as few words as possible, but still be 
kind to all, even to the unthankful : — you will 
find the great benefit of this. Live to God : be 
entirely given up to him in all things. The 
Lord continue his blessing upon you all ! I wish 
to see you soon. let us take each other into 
God, and never break the heavenly union ! 
" I am your affectionate brother, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XXIV. 

TO MRS. BAISTON. 

" Hull, January 4, 1806. 

" My Dear Sister : — The bearer, Mrs. 
Helmsley, will be a sweet companion for you, 
will meet your class, and help you in the blessed 
way. We have had her much at Hull : she has 
been remarkably useful. I hope the Lord will 
be with her among the friends at Leeds. 

" I understand you are doing well in your own 
mind. ' But ever remember what great things 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 203 

the Lord can do for us. the veil that is upon 
us, till the increasing light shines ! And I am 
astonished how little we can know at once. Yet 
do not faint, do not grow weary, still strive. The 
greatest salvation is yours — only receive. For if 
it is step by step, you will at least gain one every 
day ; and this will shortly bring you into all the 
fulness of God. Be always laboring; and labor 
will be joyful, yea, exceedingly joyful. 

" My dear sister, do rise a little more early. 
Do you strive to have all things ready for the 
day ? I do not mean for two days, (you will not 
bear that,) but for one day. < Take no thought 
for the morrow.' If you receive what I call ' the 
full composure' in the morning, the mind stayed 
upon God, the solid rest, — this will carry you into 
all your little concerns with the utmost patience, 
and the daily cross will be the blessed means of 
increasing your heaven. And this is a constant 
heaven ; this is your place, to have God your all. 
I have seen much more lately. I can say to you 
I live here : I dwell in God, and wonder that I 
did not feel what I now feel, twenty years ago. 
But (praise God !) all is well. My kind love to 
Mr. Baiston. 

" I am your dear brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

With the following very judicious letter to a 
young preacher, we will close this chapter. The 
advice which it offers to him is very important ; 
and one part of it reminds us of the following 
anecdote : 



204 MEMOIR OP W. RRAMWELL. 

The servant of a celebrated doctor of divinity 
had gone to hear the Rev. George Whitefield ; 
and on his return was thus interrogated by his 
master, who did not greatly relish Mr. White- 
field's popularity. " Well, John, what are your 
thoughts about Mr. Whitefield?'' "0 sir!" 
said John, "he is a wise preacher, a very wise 
preacher." " Yes," rejoined his master, "he is 
a wise preacher; but there are preachers pos- 
sessed of greater wisdom than he is." "That 
may be," resumed John, " yet he is a very wise 
preacher." His master retired into his study, 
and in a little time rang for John. When he 
came, he said to him, "John, he that winneth 
souls is wise : Mr. Whitefield is indeed a very 
wise preacher." 



LETTER XXV. 

TO MR. JOSEPH WILSON. 

"Hull, July 4, 1806. 

" My Dear Joseph : — You have frequently 
been greatly upon my mind. I was much afraid 
you went out too soon ; but I hope every thing 
has turned out for the glory of God, the good of 
your own soul, and for the salvation of numbers. 
I do pray that this blessed end may be answered 
in all your labors. The Lord can and will help 
you, if your eye be single. 

" This is the time for your improvement. Give 
yourself entirely to the work. Rise early. Con- 
tinue in prayer, in earnest prayer. Keep all your 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 205 

life, all your zeal; yet never be wild. Go on 
your way. Speak evil of none. Never debate 
about the work. ' Be a lamb dumb : open not 
your mouth.' Live in entire sanctification, — all 
your heart God's throne. Never grieve him, or 
cause him to depart from you. Take care how 
you act toward women : keep your eyes, your 
heart, from wandering. Determine, if you need 
it, upon fasting. Keep your body under. Be 
dead to all. Be a man of God. I believe I shall 
have joy, great joy on your account. May it be 
so for ever ! 

" Procure Blair's Lectures : they will cost you 
more than a pound. Read them with much care. 
Keep to plain words, yet not mean ones. Strive 
to save souls in every sermon. ' They are the 
best preachers who bring souls to God/ 

u If you should go to Leeds, I shall have the 
comfort of seeing you. If not, write me a letter 
to Leeds, saying in it all your mind. Give my 
kind love to Mr. Blanshard. The Lord bless you 
evermore ! Many souls are turning to God here. 

" I am your dear brother in Christ Jesus, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



18 



206 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Mr. Bram well's travels and success in the Sunderland Circuit — 
His Christian moderation — Anecdotes — Letters — His appoint- 
ment to the Liverpool Circuit — Letters. 

At the Conference in 1806, Mr. Bramwell was 
stationed in the Sunderland Circuit. In conse- 
quence of the peculiar notions of his predecessor, 
Mr. Cooke, who had been very popular there, the 
society was much agitated. On Mr. Bramwell's 
arrival, he found that the greatest caution and 
prudence would be necessary in order to preserve 
the members from biting and devouring each 
other. Having on former occasions experienced 
the benefit of profound silence respecting dis- 
putes, he resolved that he would neither speak 
nor hear any thing concerning Mr. Cooke's errors. 
He also enjoined silence on the subject of the 
controversy on his colleagues, and determined 
never to introduce it either in public or in private. 
When one of the preachers sent him some pam- 
phlets written in answer to Mr. Cooke, he would 
not allow them to be circulated, but returned 
them to the author. 

While he thus persevered in occupying peace- 
ful ground, the disturbance was almost instantly 
quashed, and his way was made clear and plain 
before him. He now began to exert himself, as 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 207 

usual, to win souls to Christ. To effect this, he 
used every possible means. He frequently met 
the societies, held prayer-meetings after preach- 
ing, and desired the people to pray. In love- 
feasts, he always exhorted the people to declare 
their present experience in few words ; and some- 
times took the liberty of telling the loquacious 
that they had spoken long enough. He often 
cautioned the people against long speaking about 
the past when they had but little to say concern- 
ing the present. By these means variety was 
introduced. He sometimes called persons by 
name to speak. When there was great back- 
wardness at band-meetings, he would begin at one 
end of the room and go through the whole assem- 
bly, asking all of them the state of their minds. 

So ardently did he long for the salvation of 
sinners, that, when walking with a friend in the 
streets, he would suddenly leave him and go to 
warn, encourage, or exhort other persons who 
were passing at the same time, and to many of 
whom he was unknown. Early one morning, 
when he was returning from a village in which 
he had been preaching the preceding night, he 
met a friend, and said, " my brother ! How 
much I feel condemned in my mind ! The little 
feathered songsters of the grove have been awake 
and employed in the praises of God an hour or 
two before I arose." 

While he was in this circuit, he and one of 
his colleagues met at the house of a worthy and 
respectable friend, where they continued all night. 
At that time the family was brought into a very 



208 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

low state. The owner of the habitation in which 
they lived wished to get it into his own posses- 
sion for some other purpose. This would have 
been attended with very painful and distressing 
circumstances, because no other place could have 
been procured which would have suited them so 
well. During the course of the evening, Mr. 
Bramwell was made acquainted with the whole 
affair. After performing family worship in a way 
which will not soon be forgotten, he and his col- 
league retired, and spent nearly the whole night 
in prayer for these good people. In a short time 
afterward, affairs were most unexpectedly over- 
ruled for their good, in a manner for which they 
could not account. But they believe this change 
was effected in direct answer to Mr. Bramwell' s 
prayers, for "the fervent prayer of a righteous 
man availeth much/' 

It will appear from the following letters that 
he did not thus labor in vain, or spend his 
strength for naught : 



LETTER XXVI. 

TO MR. J. ARMITAGE. 

"Durham, November 3, 1806. 
" My Dear Brother : — I received your kind 
letter. I praise God that my dear sister Armi- 
tage is so much recovered. I hope she will pray 
always, and her soul will grow abundantly. Say 
to her for me, ' Be ready, yea, be always ready/ 
The Lord bless her more and more ! I am at the 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 209 

present given to prayer. A great prospect offers 
in this circuit. — Cooke's chaff had nearly blinded 
the people. Crowds come to hear : their eyes 
begin to be open. In one love-feast last Sunday, 
there was a great shower, — ten persons were 
brought into liberty. I do not know how it may 
end. If as it begins, we shall have a great work. 

We have too good a house in Sunderland, and 
the friends are too kind. I have had to watch 
and fast, or should soon have been ruined with 
good things. I hope you continue to pray much, 
and would have you determine to improve your 
preaching. I know . you may. Read, write, 
study, when you have proper time. Live in 
nothing short of a clean heart. Be kind to all ; 
but submit to none in lightness, etc., etc. Be a 
weighty man of (rod. You have much to do. 
Do all to the Lord. Lose nothing in your busi- 
ness — I mean, lose no ground when in your 
business. You need not. 

" Write to me. I love you and yours. I will 
pray for you and be with you in glory. Amen ! 
"Yours, etc., 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER XXVII. 

TO MR. W. BURROWS. 

"Sunderland, 1806. 
" My Dear Brother : — I thank my Lord 
Jesus for the information I receive from you on 
the subject of the kingdom of God. The salva- 
18* 



210 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

tion is nearer than when we believed. what 
shall we do our Saviour to love ? I grieve that 
my love is no stronger, that I am no more like 
him. I wonder at his glory, and sink before him 
with shame. How is it, that the soul being of 
such value, and God so great, eternity so near, 
and yet we so little moved ? You perhaps can 
answer me this. 

" I never was so much struck with the word of 
God as at the present. The truth, the depth, the 
promises, quite swallow me up. I am lost in 
wonder and praise. My soul enters into Christ 
in this blessed book. His own sayings take faster 
hold of me than ever. I could read and weep, 
and love and suffer ; yea, what could I not suffer 
when I thus see him ? Justification is great, — 
to be cleansed is great, — but what is justification 
or the being cleansed, when compared with this 
being taken into himself? The world, the noise 
of self, — all is gone ; and the mind bears the full 
stamp of God's image : here you talk, and walk, 
and live, doing all in him and to him. Con- 
tinual prayer, and turning all into Christ in every 
house, in every company, — all things by him, 
from him, and to him ! 

"0 my dear brother! I hope you are doing 
well, — prospering in health, in your family, in 
business, in salvation. You will have the daily 
inconvenience ; but this will be the grand means, 
yea, the loud voice, — c Pray ! pray V and con- 
tinue in it, plead in it, weep in it, groan in it. 
You know the way ; yea, the Lord hath shown 
you the gospel, the great salvation, and you can- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 211 

not rest as others, be happy as others. No : you 
must have all ; and nothing less than all will quiet 
your mind. Never grow faint. Keep the same 
action, the same labor for the good of souls, the 
burning love, which will make you rise early, yea, 
and sometimes late take rest. — If things grow 
slack, Satan suggests, ' Nothing can be done !' I 
answer, 'Much may be done !' Ploughing, sow- 
ing, weeding, pruning, etc., etc., may be done; 
and this will give us hope of a blessed harvest. 
Go on, do all in love; but go on, never grow 
weary in well-doing. 

" The Lord is good to us : I have seen four 
hundred brought into society, and I believe nearly 
all saved from evil. The work, I can truly say 
to you, is in general deepening through the cir- 
cuit. Nothing was known about entire sanctifi- 
cation ; and on this ground I yet mourn. But 
we have got a band just begun, and I hope all 
will receive the blessing. Pray for me ! and beg 
that I may live in all the will of God. I think 
my wife has stronger faith : her classes are all in 
a flame. I want to see you ; but I am quite un- 
certain respecting the time : do give our dear love 
to Mrs. Burrows, to dear Miss Burrows, to Wil- 
liam, John, and my little Josiah. The Lord be 
with the family, and preserve our children ! Give 
my love to all the preachers, as they come to you. 
"lam your brother, as ever, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



212 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER XXVIII. 

TO MR. J. HANWEIL. 

" Sunderland, December 6, 1806. 

" My Dear John : — I was glad to hear from 
you that the Lord is with you, and doing good 
in the circuit. I bless the Lord that the sun 
shines a little on Bridlington. Surely God is 
ready to make all things new, and will be with all 
who have a single eye and labor to save men. I 
know that it is no proof of your not being called 
to the work, when you see yourself so unfit, and 
feel so much ashamed before God. At sixteen 
we think we know ; at twenty we think we know 
much ) but if we increase in true knowledge, we 
shall know ourselves to be nothing. Nothing 
could induce me to continue in the work, but 'woe 
is me if I preach not the gospel V Write all your 
mind to me again as soon as you think proper. 

" The Lord is pleased to help us here. I have 
seen at the least one hundred brought into liberty. 
Twenty soldiers are made acquainted with the 
Lord. A number of them have received pardon, 
but there has not a great number joined the 
society yet. The prospect is great. 

u Rise early. Keep a match-box. Never be 
in bed late, unless you are obliged to sit up late. 
Pray ! Read ! Pray ! 

" I am your dear brother, as ever, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 213 

LETTER XXIX. 

TO MRS. PAWSON. 

"Sunderland, January, 1808. 

"My Dear Friend: — I am waiting for my 
change. I can say, I long for it. I have been 
preaching two funeral sermons this week, for two 
eminent Christians; and my soul, at the time, 
received such a view of that glory which they now 
enjoy, that earth and all things in it were swal- 
lowed up in God. I must say to my dear mother 
in the gospel, ' I now live, yet not I, but Christ 
liveth in me.' 

"I have been for some months laboring to 
attain to that point, — for nothing for one moment 
to divert me from God. The Lord has given me 
this blessing. I now feel the full effect of that 
passage, 'He dwells in God, and God in him/ 
I live in God. what views have I in this 
state ! Creation, redemption, full salvation, the 
state of the world ! I grieve, but it is in God. 
I rejoice, but it is in God. I speak, but I find it 
is in God. I am tempted much, but unmoved in 
God. how I long for all the Church to know 
this great salvation ! And yet I can bear with 
the weak more than ever. I am greatly ashamed : 
sometimes I blush before the Lord. I can do 
nothing without him. I find him on my side, 
and he gives me most striking deliverances. I 
wonder that God can love me. How is it ? But 
I can adore the Lamb of God. 

•' My dear Mrs. Pawson, what shall we do to 



214 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

persuade the Church into this union ? To he 
cleansed from sin is great indeed ; hut to receive 
the inward glory, in its full influence, — this is 
the salvation. The Lord waits to impart every 
thing he has promised; and would, as a kind 
father, rather, much rather that his children had 
the whole. I hope you are going on. Fear not; 
he has saved and protected you, and he will do it 
to the end. Remember, instead of going from the 
outward to the inward, we are, as a body, going 
from the inward to the outward splendor, — which 
has been too much the case with all churches. 
The Lord be with you ! 

"lam your affectionate brother, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XXX. 

TO MR. R. PILTER. 

"Sunderland, March 7, 1808. 
"My Dear Brother: — It has been much 
upon my mind to write to you. I remember 
with gratitude the information you gave me re- 
specting my friends in Kent. How you are 
going on this year I do not know ; but I hope 
the Lord is still with you and blessing you in 
all your labors. Our work as ministers of the 
gospel is of such importance, that I frequently 
tremble exceedingly before I go into the pulpit. 
Yea. I wonder how I ever dared to engage in 
such a work. Yet when I am laboring to speak 
a little. I am frequently so much overpowered 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 215 

with the Divine presence, that I would not leave 
my work for all the world. how merciful is 
God our Saviour! He ' strengthens our weak 
hands. He will save us.' 

" Go on, my dear brother : preach, pray, purge, 
and plant. Do all in God, and he will stand by 
you, and work among the people. I hope you 
see the propriety of the improvement of time. 
Perhaps \ early to bed and early to rise/ may be 
the best. I do not know whether you will need 
more than six hours. I say 'six hours in bed.' 
This has been sufficient for me for many years. 
If you find that you can do with so little bed, you 
have time for all things. What is it you cannot 
receive ? What is it you cannot bear ? What is 
it you cannot do ? Live, my brother, in entire 
sanctification. Be cleansed from sin. Live, my 
brother, in love, yea, in the fulness of God. 
Live to be a workman. Do all the will of God in 
the churches. You will go through the circuit 
seeking souls. Nothing but souls brought to God 
will satisfy. You will save yourself and those 
that hear you. 

"All is well here, through the goodness of God, 
— your relations, — the Church. Numbers are 
turning to God; but, I think, not so many in 
Sunderland as there were in the last year. Great 
crowds come to hear. The chapel is now one of 
the largest. All the seats are let; a pleasing 
sight ! to be ready ! I labor — I strive — I do 
grow a little — I live in God. He is all. the 
union, the heaven ! I never saw myself so little; 
yet I am 'kept by his mighty power/ Lord, 



216 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

help me and all thy followers to sing thy praises 
for ever ! May I meet you in glory ! Amen ! 
" I remain your affectionate brother, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER XXXI. 

TO MR. J. ROBINSON. 

" Sunderland, April 15, 1808. 

" My Dear Brother : — I saw your mother 
this morning, who desired I would write to you. 
I understand that you are quite satisfied you are 
in your place ; I mean as a travelling preacher — 
a work which makes me, even to the present 
time, tremble in the presence of God. I am 
still persuaded that nothing can support us but 
that almighty power which raised the Lord Jesus 
from the dead. Yet it is quite possible for you 
and me to make this a worldly business; that 
it may become so formal as to create in us no 
more concern than any common business in 
life. Shall the Lord ordain us to this heavenly 
calling ? Shall he empower us with the spirit of 
zeal and of power ? Shall he send us forth into 
this labor, to save sinners from everlasting dam- 
nation ? And shall we, after all, lose the true 
spirit of our calling ? How can we then give in 
our account? How shall we stand before the 
judgment-seat of Christ ? Nothing less than the 
improvement of time, talents, etc., etc., can give 
us the least plea in that day. 

" Consider this, my dear brother, and strictly 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 217 

examine yourself. Do you rise about four o'clock 
every morning? In order to this, do you re- 
tire to rest as soon as your work and eating are 
over? Or do you sit and chat with the people? 
Do you give yourself to reading and prayer ? I 
say give, ' give yourself to these/ Are you never 
in company above an hour at once ? And, when 
in company, do you turn all into profit, into re- 
ligion ? Are you a man of God in spirit, in word, 
in deed? Do you feel a clear witness of entire 
sanetification, — the cleansing blood ? And do you 
declare this and walk in it ? 

" I want you also to be a preacher. And, in 
order to this, would it not be well to read the 
Scriptures without comment, find out the breadth 
and length, depth and height, by digging, prayer, 
and receiving light from God ? Whoever de- 
pends on comments will be very superficial, and 
will never speak with proper confidence. You 
may sometimes examine a comment after your 
own labor, to see what difference, etc., but never 
before it. Write something every day: have 
a book for the purpose ; and never lose one 
idea which the Lord in mercy gives you. In 
preaching, never be tedious : the world never did 
and never will bear that which is tedious. Let 
your introduction be a short opening to your ser- 
mon. An introduction is to prepare the people 
to receive what you have to say. Let your 
sermon be clear and strong, reaching every heart. 
' Save thyself and them that hear thee.' 

" If you have no end in view but the bringing 
souls to God, — this will cure almost every thing. 



218 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

Strive to bring some home in every sermon. God 
will be with you, and he will bless you. He will 
give you the desire of your heart. Be neat and 
clean in all your clothes — never foppish or fine. 
Have every thing consistent with your Lord 
Jesus. Set him before you at all times. Never 
be ceremonious; yet learn a good address. Be 
courteous, be kind, never gloomy, never light or 
trifling. my brother, live for eternity : the 
Lord is at hand. Be ready every moment for 
glory ; ever as willing to leave this earth as to go 
to sleep. Give my love, my wife's love, and 
John's kind love, to my dear brother Midgley, 
and to sister Midgley. Pray, pray, pray, and 
never cease. 

"I am yours affectionately, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XXXII. 

TO MRS. BAISTON. 

"Sunderland, 1808. 
" My Dear Sister : — I have long had it upon 
my mind to write to you. This may be because 
of our former union in Christ Jesus. For I hope 
this union will continue with us, yea, never be 
broken. Can we receive a meetness for eternal 
glory? And can we receive this meetness for 
glory while on earth, even in such a short time ? 
Can we in a moment secure an everlasting crown ? 
O my sister, who would trifle, who would suffer 
any object in this world to divert them from the 
reward — the full reward? I am frequently as- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 219 

tonished that any enlightened person should 
make provision for the body in such a way as to 
hinder in the least measure the glorious recom- 
pense. 

" You will view mountains ; and in looking to 
God, you will reach their tops. But in little 
things you will use your own strength, and sink 
to the bottom. Christ Jesus hath told us that 
nothing can be done separately from him ; and 
yet we forget the caution, and lose our way. 
Every thing requires prayer; and if we pray in 
every thing, we shall always find cause for thanks- 
giving to God. Keep your proper lookout or 
view. Keep your continued acts of faith. Keep 
your utmost patience ; for, in seeing, believing, 
and being resigned, all your enemies will fall be- 
fore you. My sister, as it respects our great 
salvation, we have nothing to do with those who 
began before us, or with those who came in after 
us, — with counsel from man or with the expe- 
rience of others, unless these corroborate the tes- 
timony. It is plainly what God says; for all he 
hath said he will do. Set your foot upon the 
Rock : fix your eye upon the promise ; and with 
your hand lay hold of the purchased blessing. It 
must come. It must all come. Nothing less 
than all is yours. 

u Nothing does my soul more good than to see 
my fellow-Christians claiming their own, — that 
which is with God laid up against their return. 
When you receive this cup of salvation, the effect 
will be, — the clamor of self is over ; the slavish 
fear of being nothing is over; the soul keeps its 



220 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

place in God, and is ready for all that can come 
upon it. It bears, it forbears : it thinks no evil : 
it cannot dwell or live here. 

" this heaven of God's presence ! this open- 
ing into glory ! this weeping over a lost world ! 
this being willing to lay down your life for the 
Church ! * God is all/ my soul, I feel its 
fire, its burning, as I write. God grant the flame 
may spread, the glory shine ! May the world re- 
ceive it ! Places to me are less than ever. De- 
voted souls are my delight. To see my friends 
dwelling in God, and God in them, affords me 
one of the greatest earthly pleasures. Go on, my 
dear sister, go on : the crown is before you. A 
few more battles, and heaven is won. The Lord 
Jesus grant that you may never faint ! Will you 
write, and let- me know all things concerning 
yourself, my dear brother Baiston, and friends ? 
I long to meet you all in yonder bright world. 
Amen ! Come, Lord Jesus ! 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XXXIII. 

TO MR. PRESTON. 

" Sunderland, 1808. 
" My Dear Brother : — Nothing in this world 
can equal the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
especially when the love of God becomes the rul- 
ing principle of the soul. To struggle with out- 
ward sin is hard work. To fight with the risings 
of evil nature is hard work. But when the soul 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 221 

receives the all-cleansing blood, when the mind 
enjoys this indwelling God, when he reigns alone, 
— then we find the great benefit of salvation : all 
is quiet ; all is calm, — you stand unmoved. Water, 
fire, devils, men, cannot all disturb your rest. 
Besides, you are prepared for every work, can 
preach, pray, etc., etc., and leave all to him. 
Some say, 'It is good/ — others, 'Middling/ — 
others, ' Very bad :' you can still say, ' Glory V 
and proceed with your work. Happy man ! happy 
work ! happy end ! 

" I hope you have fallen into no decline, given 
up no part of your faith or your union with God. 
Shall such a man flee, and so many souls going 
to hell ? Can you bear to see the world sink 
lower? It is low enough. We must, by the 
grace of God, at least have a few, as brands from 
the fire. If you gain one in a month, see your 
crown of glory; and if nothing else will stimulate 
your soul to perpetuate this blessed work, let the 
place in the city of God ever stir you up to mag- 
nify the Lord in your body, whether it be by life 
or by death. I believe you have not yet received 
the promise — I mean all the promise. I know 
that all things are so delightful when we enter 
the country, that we shall be occupied in gazing 
on the flowers, instead of pressing into all the 
glory, which you will ever find in the centre — 
God. To be swallowed up in him is your glory. 
Do not stay because others do. Give kind words 
to all, but tarry with none. Every thing you 
have to do on earth will now be a step to heaven. 
Business will smile with the presence of God. 
19* 



222 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

Business will smile with the presence of God. 
You will see him in all things, and you can- 
not do any thing without him. Live, my dear 
brother, with Abraham in believing, with Elias 
in prayer, with Daniel in courage, with John in 
love, with Paul in feeling for the world. Re- 
member ' night and day with tears/ In general, 
debates are fruitless. If possible, keep from 
them, though on the purest subjects. Whoever 
think differently from you, be the same kind 
and affectionate friend to them. Bless them who 
curse. The Lord be with you. 
" Yours, etc., 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER XXXIV. 

TO MR. DUNN. 

" Sunderland, February 7, 1807. 

" My Dear Brother : — If you had not been 
provided for, I should have sent for you here, as 
we have called a fourth preacher, and altered this 
circuit to what I think the most comfortable I 
was ever in — a fortnight in and a fortnight out. 
We have three chapels in : one the size of Hull 
large chapel, another the same as Scott street, 
and a third larger. I have seen more than one 
hundred souls brought into liberty. About two 
hundred joined us the last quarter, sixty of whom 
were soldiers, — lions turned into lambs. Such a 
work of Grod in the army I have not seeu before ; 
and it spreads. I wonder at the power of God 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 223 



among these men. Seventy now meet in class, 
and are proved to be quite changed. A revival 
is beginning in several places. At Durham we 
have laid the foundation for a new chapel ; which 
will cost about two thousand pounds. A gentle- 
man (not in society) who heard the word, offered 
one hundred pounds, and land. I think it will not 
be burdened. I am exceedingly followed by Sa- 
tan, and much tempted; but I do, upon the 
whole, grow in the grace of God. The Lord keep 
me aud my brethren ! 

" I hope you will be quite comfortable among 
the Wetherby friends till conference. Do give 
my kind love to them in every place. I love 
them much, and I hope to see them by some 
means before it is long. My dear brother, read, 
write, rise early. Give all into the Lord's hands, 
and your way will be plain, your soul will be 
alive, your labors will he crowned with success. 
Time is short, the earth trembles, the mountains 
shake ; yet i God is with us/ and he will be in 
us. Pray for me. I trust I shall ever have 
reason to love you in Christ Jesus. Amen. 
" Your very affectionate brother, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XXXV. 

TO MR. ARMITAQE. 

" Durham, April 20, 1807. 
" My Dear Armitage : — I thank you for the 
information you gave me in your last, and I praise 



224 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

God for the conduct of Mr. Moore in this busi- 
ness. I hope all will do well, and that you will, 
by some means, in some place, receive the •' meet- 
ness for the inheritance of the saints in light.' 
This glory is set before us, and I thirst more than 
ever for all the salvation which can be received in 
this world. I perceive all our labor, prayer, faith, 
and working, will be seen in that day as very 
little that we have done in order to our entrance 
into glory. I never till lately had such striking 
views of the heavenly country. The world and 
the Church are gone, self is gone, when I view 
the place, the company, the eternity. My soul 
cries out, ' make and keep me ready !' The 
Bible becomes more than ever my delight, and I 
am ready to say. ' I know nothing : I am nothing/ 
O how I sink, yea, lie before the Lord ! Every 
thing that I say or do, preaching, praying, etc., 
etc., seems to me to be nothing compared to what 
it should be. Here I am, here I live, wondering 
that even the Lord himself should notice me for 
one moment. 

" I hope you make progress in the heavenly 
road. Grod is with you, has shown you many 
things, helped you in many, been kind to you re- 
specting your dear partner, in continuing her 
with you a little longer. O how you should love 
and serve the Lord your Grod ! You know no- 
thing can be received but in the same way : you 
began well, you continued, you are in his favor. 
Now, my dear John, bear his likeness, bear 
the image of your Lord ! Be pure in heart ; 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 225 

never proud, never angry, never peevish, never 
fretful. Let all within be from heaven, God your 
all. I trust you will never rest without this. I 
hope in your next you will say, ( I gave my all to 
him. I pleaded that I would not let him go. He 
has cleansed my soul. I feel it. All evil is gone. 
I live in love, — all love, nothing but love.' Time 
is short, your work is great : God can do it, and 
he will do it for you. Fear not. Be holy : have 
the closest union with your Maker, your Saviour. 

" Things are doing well here — numbers are 
turning to the Lord. One of our preachers is 
sick. I wish Mr. Moore could send me a good 
preacher from your circuit for three months. 
But I suppose none of them could leave their busi- 
ness. Could he spare brother Charles Turking- 
ton ? Or could Charles come to see me, and help 
me a little, and then return home ? How is he 
situated ? "Write to me immediately, if there be 
any prospect in your circuit in a proper way. 

u My wife and John unite with me in much 
love to you all. Pray, pray much more. 

"I am your affectionate brother in Christ 
Jesus, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XXXVI. 

TO 31 R. SIGSTON. 

" Sunderland, December 2, 1807. 
" My Brother Sigston : — I sit down to 
write to you what is upon my mind respecting 
myself, the Church, the nation, and the world. 



226 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

" My warfare is continual : I am surrounded 
with the powers of darkness. The temptations to 
sloth, to fainting, against preaching, praying, etc., 
etc., are as great as ever; and, I sometimes think, 
are much increased. Invitations to feast, to eat 
and drink, are more numerous in this place than 
I have ever known them. A great many of the 
friends in superior situations, and naturally 
friendly, have a tendency to produce these effects. 
I stand in the Lord — I dwell in him. I am kept 
by the power of God. Of this I am fully assured. 
I grow, I am less. I become more ashamed, and 
more dependent upon my Heavenly Father. My 
fellowship with God is closer, more constant, and 
with stronger affection. I am the most grieved 
with my preaching. It is so far short of the sub- 
ject, — redemption, full salvation. I tremble as 
much as ever; and the modesty put upon my 
soul makes me tremble in the presence of the 
people. I am using every means by prayer, 
etc., to be fit to live among angels. how pure, 
how holy, must they be in heaven ! Lord Jesus, 
make me to do thy will as those pure spirits do it 
above ! 

" From all the proper information I can receive, 
the Church in England, and the Methodists in 
particular, are not decreasing in number, and 
perhaps not much increasing. But I am certain 
the doctrine of entire sanctification is upon the 
decline j and if not enforced will produce a de- 
clension in the work among the people. I do 
not see how this is to be restored among us j be- 
cause the greater part of the persons in authority, 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 227 

arising from riches, etc., are much averse to this 
in their minds. And as the number of such au- 
thorities increases, the doctrine will decrease, — 
and this from a fear of displeasing such au- 
thorities. Here the glory is departing, and, I 
fear, will depart. We have to pray that the 
number of those may be increased who boldly, as 
at the first, declare the whole counsel of God. If 
the Methodists had not had among them what no 
other people have had, then they had not had sin, 
but now we have no cloak for the neglect. After 
all this, we must conclude that the most of the 
power of God is yet among them. 

"A black cloud is over Sunderland and all the 
seaports, yea, over England itself. Things are 
fast hastening to a crisis : what that will be is not 
revealed. God only knows how far the judgment 
may reach. The revelations are now most clearly 
explained by matter of fact; and must not those 
things which are yet to come be accomplished ? 
■ — Things can never continue long as they now 
are. How is it that there is such a clamor for 
continued war ? — Darkness remains upon us. I 
wonder at the patience of God ! I wonder at the 
blindness of men ! 

" I hope if you do not come over this Christ- 
mas, you will write me all your mind on these 
subjects; and in the mean time, pray, pray; 
and pray for us. We are all in peace, but want 
much prosperity. The Lord bless you and dear 
Mrs. Sigston, and all the dear friends in Leeds ! 
u I am yours, very affectionately, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



228 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER XXXVII. 

TO MR. SIGSTON. 

" Sunderland, April 23, 1807. 

" My Dear Sigston : — When I received your 
last I was unable to answer it, and am not yet 
prepared ! A world of confusion ! the whole 
earth trembles. We are all in the dark, and yet 
the light of God shines upon this little spot, to 
the astonishment of thousands. I wonder at our 
continued salvation. Our God yet fighteth for 
us ; and how can we account for it ? The Spirit 
is received in some places, even in its depth ; but 
this is through means. If the ministry is not 
sound, there is, I perceive, great power with God 
among that people. The preachers sometimes 
take the praise, and this may create a new estab- 
lishment; but 'God will reward every man 
according to his works/ The mixture in a 
general way, I am confident, is increasing. The 
rich, the mighty, sit upon their seats, and too 
frequently usurp improper authority, which damps 
too much the living flame among the simple. 
Young preachers seek to gain the respect of such 
persons, to their own destruction. How to stop 
the torrent is beyond the wisdom of man, and (I 
am afraid, in the ordinary way of working,) the 
power of God. Will any thing less do it than 
judgment, the fire, the sword, the plague, the 
army, etc. ? Will any thing less do it than the 
test, — 'Live to God, and die for it?' 

"The stir with the Ottoman makes me conjee- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 229 

ture that tlie time is drawing near. But this is 
with a few ; and, my Lord, what can we do ? I 
am confident we can do nothing, only, 'fear God 
and honor the king/ love all the world, and do a 
little in the way he hath appointed us, ' stand still 
and see the salvation of God.' I have lately seen 
what I never saw before, that is, the great dark- 
ness and wickedness which are on all the conti- 
nent. I am persuaded that the greatest part of 
the world is now in such a state of superstition, 
as has never been known : all sects gone, quite 
gone, from the glory ! And, excepting England, 
and some other nations, the world called l Chris- 
tian' is devilish. I want much to hear from 
Pontavice, who has now a Protestant Church in 
France; but I cannot write or receive a letter 
from him. What do you think? Will America 
cast us off? Shall we stand alone among the 
nations ? What are your views ? 

" I have lately seen much into the gospel. I 
am convinced our glory is little comparatively; 
especially as it respects the body. We are ( the 
temples of the Holy Ghost/ I see the necessity 
of the greatest purity in the outward man. To 
keep the whole, requires constant prayer, watch- 
ing, looking always at Christ. I mean that the 
soul never be diverted from him for one moment : 
but that I view him in all my acts, take hold of 
him as the instrument by which I do all my 
work, and feel that nothing is done without him. 
To seek men, world, self-praise, is so shocking to 
my view at present, that I wonder that we are not 
all struck dead when the least of this comes upon 
20 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

us!* I know immediately when I grieve the 
Lord, the Spirit speaks within ; and to do wrong 

* On this awful subject the following extract from 
the Imperial Magazine for December, 1819, may be of 
service to every minister of the gospel. It is the sub- 
stance of a remarkable dream related by the late Rev. 
R. Bowden, of Darwen, who committed it to writing 
from the lips of the person to whom the dream hap- 
pened, on the evening of May 30th, 1813. 

THE DREAM. 

A gospel minister of evangelical principles, whose 
name, from the circumstances that occurred, it will be 
necessary to conceal, being much fatigued at the con- 
clusion of the afternoon service, retired to his apartment 
in order to take a little rest. He had not long reclined 
upon his couch, before he fell asleep and began to 
dream. He dreamed, that on walking into his garden, 
he entered a bower that had been erected in it, where 
he sat down to read and meditate. While thus em- 
ployed, he thought he heard some person enter the 
garden ; and leaving his bower, he immediately hastened 
toward the spot whence the sound seemed to come, in 
order to discover who it was that had entered. He had 
not proceeded far before he discerned a particular friend 
of his, a gospel minister of considerable talents, who had 
rendered himself very popular, by his zealous and un- 
wearied exertions in the cause of Christ. On approach- 
ing his friend, he was surprised to find that his counte- 
nance was covered with a gloom which it had not been 
accustomed to wear, and that it strongly indicated a 
violent agitation of mind, apparently arising from con- 
scious remorse. After the usual salutations had passed, 
his friend asked the relater the time of the day; to 
which he replied, " Twenty-five minutes after four." 
On hearing this, the stranger said, " It is only one hour 
since I died, and now I am damned." "Damned! for 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 231 

in the great light is the great offence. I long to 
live as near as ever any did ; and yet I feel I 
have not all that Ann Cutler found. My soul is 
subject to sloth; and I have work, I assure you, 
to keep all things going at full speed. But when 
I do this for one day, I see the ground I have 
gone over. how swiftly we may run even in 
this world. I think I am as strong in body to 
labor as ever I was ; and yet I find my sight fails 
me fast — a loud knock at my door ! I am settling 
all my little things as much as possible, and long 
to see the other world. Go on, my dear Sigston, 
go on ! Let all within you praise the Lord ; yea, 
may your whole soul be given up to him ! And 

•what?" inquired the dreaming minister. "It is not," 
said he, "because I have not preached the gospel, 
neither is it because I have not been rendered useful, 
for I have now many seals to my ministry, who can 
bear testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus, which 
they have received from my lips ; but it is because I 
have been accumulating to myself the applause of men 
more than the honor which cometh from above ; and 
verily I have my reward!" Having uttered these ex- 
pressions, he hastily disappeared, and was seen no more. 
The minister awaking shortly afterward, with the 
contents of this dream deeply engraven on his memory, 
proceeded, overwhelmed with serious reflections, to- 
ward his chapel, in order to conduct the evening ser- 
vice. On his way thither he was accosted by a friend, 
who inquired whether he had heard of the severe loss 
the Church bad sustained in the death of that able 

minister, . He replied, "No;" but being'much 

affected at this singular intelligence, he inquired of him 
the day and the time of the day when his departure took 
place. To this his friend replied, "This afternoon, at 
twenty-five minutes after three o'clock." 



232 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

my dear Mrs. Sigston, live in all the glory of this 
dispensation ! The Lord give you his great bless- 
ing, and may all that has ever befallen us, be 
found the necessary means of brightening our 
everlasting crown ! If you will write and say all 
your mind on these subjects, with any informa- 
tion respecting the world, the Church, yourself 
and family, you will continue our blessed union 
in the Lord our Saviour. 

H In all commentators, I am at a loss for the 
depth of the Spirit. Can you say what man has 
gone fully into it? I think you recommended 
' Poole's Synopsis.' 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER XXXVIII. 

TO MR. A. E. FABEAE. 

"Investone, December 7, 1807. 
"My Dear Abraham: — I thank you for 
your letter, am glad that you are comfortable in 
your station. Grod is with you, and he will be 
with you, if you walk by the same rule, and mind 
the same things. You have received from the 
Lord how you ought to preach and walk before 
the people. To improve all your time, you will 
find it necessary, after you have done your work, 
to retire to sleep as soon as possible, and to rise 
early. Where you cannot have your fire "made, 
have your tinder-box, wrap yourself well up, and 
you will find abundance of all things needful in 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 233 

the morning. Keep all the fire within. ' It is 
the unction/ said Mr. Fletcher, 'that makes the 
preacher/ Live in purity of heart. Be saved 
from all sin, and declare this at every proper 
season. Never be too long, even in the best 
company. You will easily find out the time to 
leave : in this you will retain your proper dignity 
and variety. Never speak evil of one place or 
society in the circuit when at another, or of any 
person to another. In observing this, you will 
prevent much evil to yourself and your labors. 
When you preach, do not begin too high : you 
may speak with as much force, and with a better 
cadence, in the lower tone. Your voice will 
increase in strength, if you keep from the rack. 
Abraham, be a man of God, a useful preacher, 
bringing many souls to glory : study this, and 
you will accomplish it. Let your end always be 
'the salvation of men/ 

" You can have a book and write all your ser- 
mons before you preach them j but do not write 
too much, neither determine to be too correct in 
keeping to your plan. Never be stiff, tiresome, 
etc. : the English cannot bear this. Never be 
tedious ; yet do not be too short. — Let them have 
all from you, but 'much in little/ Never say 
'my hearers/ in the pulpit : this would be better 
from the aged. All your address should be 
modest and grave, yet sweet aud simple. I feel 
a strong desire that you may ever answer to all I 
have said of you, that I may never be ashamed 
of my confident boasting in your behalf. 

" Do, do take my love, much love to every 
20* 



234 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

place, to every society and family in Holderness. 
The Lord be with them ! how I love them ! 
As to the blessed and dear friends, who inquire 
in Hull and Beverly, etc., I long to see them all: 
— it may be 'at the resurrection of the just.' I 
am sometimes afraid lest the work should stop in 
this circuit: this maybe from Satan; for num- 
bers are still saved. Pray for us ; and write me 
all your mind. 

" I am your affectionate friend, 

" William Bramwell." 

In 1808, Liverpool became the scene of Mr. 
Bram well's labors. From the statement in the 
first chapter of this memoir, it will be seen that 
some of his relatives resided in that town. He 
was received by the society there as an eminent 
minister of Christ, and soon found the blessed 
fruit of his labors in the gospel. Much of his 
state of mind, the success of his ministry, and his 
ardent desire for the salvation of his relatives 
and friends, will be learned by a perusal of the 
following letters : 

LETTER XXXIX. 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

"Liverpool, October 15, 1808. 

" My Dear Ann : — I received your letter. I 

think you retain a true regard for God your 

Saviour, and for your relations in the flesh. 

Your abiding in the truth gives me great joy. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 235 

The loss of all things on earth is little, when 
compared with the loss of one soul. Let nothing 
hinder your proceeding. Seek the great salva- 
tion from all evil. ' The blood of Christ cleanseth 
from all sin ;' and you will receive the full liberty, 
in looking to God and believing his word. Live 
in the spirit of prayer. Read the word with much 
thought and care. If you get established in the 
will of God, you will find constant happiness : it 
will become your great delight. Never imagine 
that you have arrived at the summit. No : see 
God in all things, and you will see no end. 

" You may make progress in other things. A 
knowledge of history is quite proper ; and ' The 
Universal History' is the book you should have. 
I know not how to send it you. I feel very de- 
sirous that you should practice music, and learn 
to play well. At the same time be sure to study 
the French. You must write to me soon, inform- 
ing me of what you do every day, — what progress 
you make in every thing, — in salvation, etc. 
" Your dear father, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XL. 

TO MRS. HARGREAVES. 

" March 9, 1809. 

"My Dear Sister: — I wish to give you 

some information respecting your friends in 

Liverpool. I found the society in a very low 

state, and left out one hundred in Liverpool the 



236 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

first quarter. The second quarter I joined one 
hundred and thirty new members, saw a number 
saved who had lost their confidence, and several 
times received in public a shaking among the 
people. The work has very much revived this 
quarter. At first I could find very few who 
retained the blessing of entire sanctification. 
That appeared to have been given up for some 
years ; but a number have lately been brought 
into the glorious liberty. There is a blessed 
work through the society in Gerrard street : six 
or eight persons have been saved at one meeting. 
Scarcely a class meets, but some of the members 
are blessed. On Saturday week, in the penitent 
meeting at Pitt street, twelve persons were saved. 
Three found mercy at a class-meeting last night. 
There are not so many returning from the world 
at the present, yet the society is made truly alive 
again. A few, both rich and poor, are awakened. 
Some precious women in rather high life are 
truly saved, with whose names you are unac- 
quainted. 

" Ever yours affectionately, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER XLI. 

TO MR. A. E. FARRAR. 

« March 24, 1809. 
"My Dear Abraham : — I thank you for 
your last letter : at that time you were in health, 
laboring with all your might to bring sinners to 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 237 

God. I am lately informed that you cannot con- 
tinue this great work. I am sorry that your 
strength is so much decreased; but am very 
desirous of knowing all the circumstances from 
yourself. A letter, informing me of your recovery, 
would be highly satisfactory. However, God, 
your Heavenly Father, knows how and when to 
deliver. I am certain he loves you, and will deal 
with you accordingly. He careth for you, and 
will pour out his blessing. I am confident you 
'will not want any manner of thing that is good.' 
I believe your soul will rise above it all. 

"Now is the time to prove your affection. 
Now is the time to lay up the weight of glory. 
If you should preach again, you will have fresh 
matter. If you should preach no more, you will 
have your reward. The work of justification is 
great; yet the entire renewal of the soul in the 
image of God is much greater. This full salva- 
tion will comfort you. Nothing but patience, 
saying, with your Lord, 'I will drink it.' the 
rest in God ! I congratulate you. This is your 
glory, < Christ my all !' Give up body and soul. 
Fear not, Abraham. He will be every thing that 
faith can make him. He will be this to your 
heart in every state. I could love to see you 
brave affliction, death, etc., etc. I think I do see 
you, I hear you saying, 'I am more than con- 
queror !' Amen ! The Lord be with you ! 

"I am praying always; nothing less will do. 
May I endure, may I increase, may I abound ! 
" Yours, most sincerely, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



238 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER XLII. 

TO MB. EVERETT. 

" Liverpool, June 21, 1809. 
" My Brother Everett : — I received yours. 
I am glad because you continue strong to labor, 
and God is with you, sending prosperity. Know 
your chain, and determine to go to its length. 
But also determine not to break it. * He knoweth 
whereof we are made/ and indeed 'we are but 
dust.' Be filled with the Spirit; and yet the 
spirit will be subject to reason. Go on, my dear 
brother. I must decrease, but you will increase. 
Be a burning light for ever ; for, if ever the fire 
goes out, you will be fit for nothing. 

" Yours affectionately, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XLIII. 

TO MR. SIGSTON. 

"Liverpool, June, 1809. 
" My Dear Brother Sigston : — I received 
yours. Mrs. Pawson left this world with the 
truth in her mouth. How we shall return to our 
sanctification, is another matter. I have some 
doubt concerning it. It must begin with us ; and 
I fear we shall not begin. That it is gone in a 
great degree from the pulpit, the Magazine, from 
Christian meetings, is evident. I should love to 
have a conversation with you on this subject. I 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 239 

never was more concerned. I never preached 
with so much power. I never wept and entreated 
so much, and I never saw less general effect in 
that way. Yet some scores have lately received 
it : numbers are at the pool-side, and we have had 
much conviction, and some showers of blessings. 
"Ad idea is going forth, that 'when we are 
justified we are entirely sanctified/ and ' to feel 
evil nature after justification, is to lose pardon/ 
etc. You may depend upon it, this is the Devil's 
great gun. We shall have much trouble with 
this, and I am afraid we cannot suppress it. I 
have felt a strong desire for you and Mrs. Sigston 
to come here this summer; but if you are called 
another way, I submit. 

" I remain your affectionate brother, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER XLIV. 



" St. Helens, July 5, 1809. 
" My Dear Miss Brew : — I received yours, 
which was a comfort to me. I rejoice on your 
account. You are kept by the power of God. 
It is by faith we stand. I believe you have re- 
ceived the forgiveness of sins. It is an unspeak- 
able blessing to have this, and to know it. In 
this you will not rest ; for, in reading the word 
of God, you will find ' great and precious pro- 
mises.' They are all yours, for you are Christ's. 
'All things are yours.' Shall any thing prevent 



240 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

or hinder you ? Can Satan persuade ? Has not 
God performed his word ? And will he not give 
you all things? To hunger, to thirst, to pray, 
to plead is your act; and this through Divine 
power. Will not God undertake your cause and 
give you full salvation ? Fear not. You will 
find the cleansing blood, you will receive the 
mind of Christ, and all through faith. O for this 
mighty faith that brings the blessing I When 
you receive this you will be less than ever. You 
will feel your nothingness, but your all from God 
and in God. The sacrifice being complete, the 
soul will be completely changed into the image of 
God. You will then ' bear all things, believe all 
things, hope all things, and endure all things/ 
I want you to be devoted to God. You cannot 
yet know for what end God hath made you so 
happy : I say so happy, — for what hath the 
world to equal this ? You may now answer the 
end of your creation, of redemption, of the death 
of Christ, and the descent of the ever-blessed 
Spirit ! You may now offer up strong cries and 
tears for your relations. You may now drop a 
word for the Son of God. You may prevent the 
everlasting ruin of some. You may increase' the 
glory of numbers ! 

" see your call. It is of great importance. 
My advice is, that you reject every thing at the 
present that would in the least degree draw you 
from the love of God. Keep your centre ! never 
be diverted, never wander • mourn if ever you lose 
sight of him. Rejoice in a constant view of him. 
What shall we be in a short time ? Ism lost in 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 241 

astonishment. I see the glory beyond all thought : 
< we shall see him as he is/ This will consist in 
our being like him. This ' recompense of re- 
ward' is now known to thousands; and what 
are all their former sorrows now ? "What are all 
their temptations? What is persecution now? 
! Iain' lost in wonder, love, and praise.' My 
dear Miss Brew, never shrink from the cross, 
never be ashamed. Proclaim the Lamb of God. 
Hear him : ' Father, I will that those whom thou 
hast given me be with me where I am.' Is it 
not enough, quite enough to be with him, and to 
behold his glory ? Let us be ready to take our 
flight, be crucified to the world, to be dead while 
we live. I should be glad to see you soon, if the 
Lord will, but his will be done ! If you are in 
your place God will be with you, and you will see 
the cloud, and know when to move. Pray, 
pray much. Let your heart be given up in this 
duty. A light shall shine upon your path. Do 
not live as most persons do : be not almost, but 
altogether a Christian. The Lord bless and di- 
rect you in all things ! and may I always have to 
rejoice on your account ! 

" I am yours, affectionately, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XLV. 

TO MRS. HARGREAVES. 

"Liverpool, 1809. 
"My Dear Sister: — We are sorry to find 
from Betty Gott's letter that vou are much worse 
21 



242 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

than usual. The mystery will shortly be unveiled, 
and you will see God. In the meantime it must 
be the great labor of faith which can support and 
bear you up in such circumstances ; but God is 
yet able to bring you through. I frequently 
think that your everlasting Crown will shine su- 
perior to thousands, who have not so suffered. O 
that I could in the least relieve you ! But what 
are wishes, or desires, or tears, for one in agony 
of pain ? The Lord Jesus stands before you, and 
shows himself in blood. Nothing but the view- 
ing of him can give the least consolation. Sal- 
vation is near j though it tarry, wait for it. It 
will come, it will not tarry. God hears your 
groanings, and will come down and deliver you. 
"On Sunday evening, (a beautiful sight!) I 
met about thirty of the Sunday scholars, who 
have a blessed work upon their minds. Twelve 
young men have found peace. A great work 
among them. I hope they will be kept. The 
Lord be with them ! 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XL VI. 

TO MR. PRESTON. 

"Liverpool, 1809. 
" My Dear Brother : — In writing to you, I 
find it on my mind to declare the great love of 
God our Saviour. Nothing produces such union 
of souls, such pity for sinners, such warmth of 
affection toward the Church. The love of Christ is 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 243 

my study; but I am frequently at a loss to under- 
stand how it is that my love to him is so little. I 
am sometimes ready to stumble at myself on this 
account. 'Am I right ? Can I be right in this 
little love ? Could I die for thee ? Could I suf- 
fer long, and still love with a passion like thine ? 
I cry to God daily, hourly, constantly, to receive 
a thousand times more love. I must give myself 
away ; for the sacrifice was consumed. I too must 
be consumed, self must be consumed, all the man 
must be consumed. And yet I must live.' Thus 
to lose myself in him, I find is my glory. Then 
nothing but Christ, in thought, word, preaching, 
and praying, etc., etc. All the Son of God! his 
mind, his way, his work, his manner ! To this 
I am coming, I am near. I am just going into 
my Lord. Here the noise of self, of the world, 
and of the Devil, is over. All is burning, all is 
rest, yet all is calm within : the eye fixed, the 
soul established, the tongue loosed, and all in 
the Spirit ! Here the Lord teaches, the Lord 
governs, and the Lord continually supplies. 

" This is salvation, and the salvation belonging 
to all believers. This is the glorious liberty of 
the children of God. This is for you; and I 
pray that you may never rest satisfied without it. 
Amen ! The reason why the Methodists in 
general do not live in this salvation, is, there 
is too much sleep, too much meat and drink, 
too little fasting and self-denial, too much conver- 
sation with the world, too much preaching and 
hearing, and too little self-examination and 
prayer. A number of Methodists now will be in 



244 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

public the whole of the Sabbath * and if they 
heard angels all the time, they would be back- 
sliders. It is astonishing how the Devil is cheat- 
ing us, and at the same time filling for a moment 
our heads, and emptying our hearts. Good God ! 
what shall we do ? How shall we return ? Is it 
possible to bring the body back by the same way, 
or into the same way ? I fear not. I sometimes 
nearly lose my hope. In all Churches till the 
present time, Satan has used outward splendor to 
darken inward glory. Is it too late to see, to know, 
to understand the temptations of the Devil ? 

a My dear Preston, consider these things. Stand 
and look around. Do not condemn, but pity. 
Do not destroy, but heal. Do not drive, but 
draw. If possible, live in all the union, the 
power, the salvation. Watch, keep your body 
under, mortify, slay, crucify ! Be a man of 
God, never go to bed late, always rise at four if 
possible, not lying in bed above six hours. Give 
a good account : stand before the Son of man. 
the glory of bringing all things to the judgment- 
seat ! This would cure us of sloth and every 
thing else. Determine. Let me hear from you, 
and of you ; yea, let me hear that you live with 
God, walk with God. Keep from every thing 
wild, every thing that goes before the Spirit. 
Take God with you, but never hang behind. 
Keep up and abound : * increase with the in- 
crease of God.' 

" I have had some blessed showers lately — 
numbers saved in the meetings ; distress among 
many in the extreme, I mean in temporal things. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 245 

What will the end be ? The powers of heaven 
are shaken. The inquisition, feudal system, nun- 
neries, Devil, coming down ! Glory ! Glory ! 
Christ will come ! He will reign triumphant. 
We may see it when we are in heaven, if not be- 
fore. 

" pray for me ! God bless you. My love to 
dear Mrs. Preston. My wife, after being a month 
in the fever, is recovering. 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER XLVII. 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

" Liverpool, May 2, 1810. 
" My Dear Ann : — I now find you much on 
my mind j and I have a desire to see you. In 
this I must endeavor to feel the most perfect re- 
signation. In this world we must suffer; and 
the absence which is necessary for our well-being 
on earth, is certainly one part of this suffering. 
You have One that loves you with that regard 
which is far beyond all my affection ; and he will 
ever watch over you for your salvation. Evil 
spirits, an evil world, with all around you, will 
not be able to ensnare, so long as you live in fel- 
lowship with your God. Let all things be done 
with a pure design for his glory. Keep your soul 
in that sweet calm in him. Watch to please your 
Lord in all things. Be Mary, have Mary's heart, 
receive of Christ's teaching, and increase in all 
those heavenly tempers every day. I long to see 
21* 



246 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

you eminent for holiness, for the Divine life, re- 
ceiving the image of your God, and speaking for 
your Heavenly Master in every action. I am 
persuaded a work is before you ; and, if all dili- 
gence is given, if every mean is used, if faith is 
in constant exercise, if hope prevails, if your soul 
is fixed on heaven, you will be ready for all the 
will of God. 'One thing is needful/ which is 
continual prayer. All will fail unless you labor 
in this way. Let the times be as frequent as 
possible, and the manner as fervent as possible. 
Full of expectation, look for the promise, and 
believe for the blessing. Be mighty in this duty. 
You will be strongly tempted to neglect prayer. 
Satan can continue his authority with all persons 
who do not give themselves to prayer. 

'Armed with all thy might, I cry to thee : 
In this I shall receive the victory.' 

Fear not, Ann ! Your Lord hath bought all the 
glory; and I hope you will claim your part in 
the first resurrection. O that you may ever be 
an ornament to the gospel of God ! 

"lam your affectionate father, 

"Wm. Bramwell. 

** P. S. — Can you read a chapter in Hebrew, 
yet not forgetting your French I" 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 247 



CHAPTER XII. 

Mr. Bramwell's appointment a second time to Sheffield — His con- 
duct and ministerial success — Remarkable anecdote — Letters— 
His second appointment to Birstal — His usefulness in that circuit 
— Letters. 

One of Mr. Bramwell's particular friends gives 
the following account of his second appointment 
to the Sheffield Circuit : 

" In the year 1810, after an absence of twelve 
years, by the very earnest request of the people, 
the Conference sent Mr. Bramwell a second time 
to Sheffield. Many of his old friends and fellow- 
helpers, in the former revival, had put off their 
harness, and were taken to their eternal reward. 
One of his intimate surviving friends told him, 
that 'he was come to perform the last office of 
friendship, to commit his mortal remains to the 
grave, and to improve the circumstances of his 
life and death to the living.'* 

" When Mr. Bramwell resided first in Sheffield, 
he was a junior preacher, although his colleagues 
labored with him in the bond of Christian fellow- 
ship; but now he was appointed as the super- 

* We refer to the late Mr. Longden : the event ac- 
corded with this presentiment. The sermon which Mr. 
Bramwell preached on the occasion, was published in 
the large edition of the Memoirs of Mr. Longden. 



248 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

intendent, and in that office we will first consider 
him. 

" In the commencement of his work he openly 
avowed that he 'was determined to know nothing 
among us hut Jesus Christ, and him crucified.' 
1 None/ he said, ' would be permitted to inform him 
privately of dissensions among brethren, but that 
he would always have the accuser and the accused 
face to face, and that he would neither condemn 
a man, nor form an opinion upon any case, before 
the individual whom it concerned had answered 
for himself/ 

" Where a superintendent has to preside in a 
large circuit, he will often have to exercise all his 
wisdom, firmness, and forbearance. In the pre- 
sent imperfect state of our knowledge, and the 
shallowness of the human comprehension, there 
will be a difference of opinion; and even good 
men, desiring to promote what they believe will 
be for the glory of God, and the good of his 
Church, are in danger of being carried too far by 
inordinate warmth of feeling and expression. On 
such occasions, with what mild authority, as an 
angel of the Church among us, have we seen Mr. 
Bramwell quell the rising of evil, and reconcile 
what appeared contradictory to those of more 
limited views ! He was able to manage the whole 
vessel with apparent ease. In preachers' and 
leaders' meetings, etc., he would kindly interrupt 
any circumlocution j while he gave to all a patient 
hearing, he facilitated the business ; and, in con- 
clusion, recapitulating the whole, he showed the 
strength or weakness of the different arguments, 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 249 

md left tlie decision to the majority of the 
meeting. 

"One great object, which he always kept 
before him, was economy in the public expen- 
diture. He would submit to any privation, rather 
than see the stewards burdened with a weight of 
debt; nor would he permit an increase of ex- 
penses, without the probability of obtaining a 
supply of sufficient funds. Our stewards were in 
advance when he came into the circuit : under 
his direction the debt was liquidated, and he left 
jur finances in prosperity. The same principles 
were extended to the building of chapels. Before 
a, chapel was erected, he first considered the mag- 
nitude of the population in that vicinity, the 
present state of the work, the existing inconveni- 
ence of the worshippers, the efforts of the people 
to raise a sufficient subscription among them- 
selves, and the probable help they would want 
from others. If all these concurred, it then 
appeared that the Lord designed a house to be 
built for himself, in which his great name might 
be recorded. 

" When our societies, under Mr. Bramwell's 
superintendence, saw that he would not permit 
improper appeals of private or public charity to 
be made, they liberally supported those plans 
which he patronized, rallied round him with 
Christian philanthropy, and tasted the blessed- 
ness of doing and receiving good. This trans- 
forming, uniting principle, amalgamated all into 
one effort and enjoyment. 

" We beheld him as a minister, and an exem- 



250 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

plary man of God, matured by increase of days — 
shorn, it is true, of some of his masculine vigor; 
yet he continued to hold a meeting for prayer, 
every morning at five, where many souls were 
quickened and saved. He had, if possible, 
greater importunity and power in prayer, with a 
richer variety of expression. As an instrument 
of the salvation of thousands of immortal spirits, 
he had become venerable. The peculiar answers 
of his prayers for individuals in afflictive circum- 
stances, can only be revealed when the secrets of 
the heart will be brought into judgment. The 
dissensions which he found among us, vanished 
as we profited by his ministry, and drank into his 
spirit. The selfish contraction of the heart was 
expanded by his benign influence, and we became 
as members of one family, sitting under the same 
vine and fig-tree, none daring to interrupt our 
sacred peace and growing prosperity. 

" He unceasingly pressed upon his hearers the 
necessity of Christian holiness, and so preached 
this doctrine as to manifest he was himself habit- 
ually grounded and settled in the experience of 
it. He raised the standard of Christian experi- 
ence as high as the Scriptures do, and yet placed 
it within the reach of every justified person. He 
gave believers no rest till they sought with all 
the heart to be fully saved from sin; knowing 
that we are in danger of counting our steps back 
again, if we do not ' press toward the mark for 
the prize of our high calling.' 'The reason/ he 
said, ' why many seek to be saved from the re- 
mains of the carnal mind, and do not obtain the 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 251 

blessing, is, because they have secretly back- 
slidden, and have forfeited the Divine favor. If 
they were correctly acquainted with their own 
state, they would first seek to be justified by faith 
in Christ Jesus.' 

"He faithfully admonished his hearers, that 
conformity to the world, and inordinate love of 
riches, open avenues to a thousand snares, and 
are the great bane of Christian simplicity and 
holiness ; that this is not a state of rest, but of 
labor; not of indulgence, but of self-denial ; and 
that these are sure marks of discipleship, if they 
spring from faith which worketh by love. His 
conversation was in heaven, from whence he 
looked continually for the Saviour. He often 
expressed his wonder respecting the joys and the 
employments of the saints in light. He frequently 
said respecting them, in familiar conversation, 
' What are they doing, think you ? — How I long 
to be with them ! To quit the burden of mor- 
tality, and, glorious as the sun, quick as thought, 
pass from world to world, and sphere to sphere/ 
No sudden alarm, no picturesque scenery, no poli- 
tical news, no worldly conversation, interrupted 
one moment his union. He breathed and lived 
in Christ, in God. 

" Under the gift of such a ministry, our con- 
gregations waited for the word of life, and the 
brethren were 'striving together, till we should 
all come in the unity of the faith, and the know- 
ledge of the Son of God, unto perfect men, unto 
the measure of the stature of the fulness of 
Christ; that we should henceforth be no more 



252 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

children, but, speaking the truth in love, might 
grow up into Him in all things which is the head, 
even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly 
joined together by that which every joint sup- 
plieth, maketh increase of the body, unto the 
edifying of itself in love/ " 

While Mr. Bramwell was in this circuit, the 
following occurrence took place, which is related 
by the person that was the subject of it, Mr. 
Thomas Riley, one of the many serious among 
our soldiery, and who is at present serjeant-major 
in the seventh dragoon-guards. It is an addi- 
tional confirmation of his power with Israel's 
God: 

" In the month of July, 1811, 1 was quartered 
in Sheffield:; at which time our regiment was 
ordered for Spain, then the seat of a protracted 
and sanguinary war. My mind was painfully 
exercised with the thoughts of leaving my dear 
wife and four helpless children in a strange 
country, unprotected and unprovided for. Mr. 
Bramwell felt a very lively interest in our situa- 
tion ; and his sympathizing spirit seemed to drink 
into all the agonizing feelings of my tender wife 
upon the occasion. He supplicated the throne of 
grace day and night in our behalf. My wife and 
I spent the evening previous to our march, at a 
friend's house, in company with Mr. Bramwell, 
who sat in a very pensive mood, and appeared to 
be engaged in a spiritual struggle all the time, 
until shortly after supper he suddenly pulled his 
hand out of his bosom, laid it on my knee, looked 
me in the face, and said, ' Brother Riley, mark 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 253 

what I am about to say : you are not to go to 
Spain. Remember, I tell you, you are not; for 
I have been wrestling with Grod on your behalf, 
and when my Heavenly Father condescends in 
mercy to bless me with power to lay hold on him- 
self, I do not easily let him go : no, not until I 
am favored with an answer. Therefore, you 
may depend upon it, that the next time I hear 
from you, you will be settled in quarters/ This 
came to pass exactly as he said ; for on our march 
the next day I was informed that the regiment 
was countermanded; and when we got to our 
quarters, at Chichester in Sussex, I wrote to him 
with a grateful heart, informing him that his 
prediction had received its accomplishment, as 
our regiment was not to go to Spain. 

"The above is a simple statement of a fact 
which could still be attested by more than one 
witness, and is an additional proof of the active 
faith which he exercised in the promises of Jesus, 
who hath said, 'All things are possible unto him 
that believeth. ; " 

Several of Mr. Bramwell's letters from this 
place show his heavenly conversation, and his 
earnest desire to join the spirits of just men made 
perfect. 

LETTER XLVIII. 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

" Sheffield, 1811. 
"My Dear Ann: — I purposed seeing you 
this week, when I went into the circuit, but 
22 



254 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

have been prevented, as I had nearly lost my 
voice, but am now much better. I think it 

would not be well for you to go to M at 

this time ; unless you have got strong faith, and 
very often retire from company to pray. I know 
it will be injurious to your soul, and to your 
improvement in all you have received. Your 
being an eminent Christian lies near my heart. 
You are almost continually on my mind. I want 
you to be in the closest union with your Lord, 
always to sit at his feet. Strive to get quite 
above a light spirit. You know that the Spirit 
of the Lord is a happy spirit ; but it is a quiet, 
serious spirit. If you leave the family several 
times in the forenoon, also in the afternoon, you 
will accomplish all I want. I have some hope 
that Mr. Longden will recover; but, you say, it 
is not the general opinion. Well ! he is happy 
in God. It matters not when we remove, if we 
be ready ; and for this I am striving more than 
ever. Nothing can satisfy, but the being ad- 
mitted among the first orders in glory. I have 
had striking views of that blessed state, — It is all 
my desire. I long to be with them. We shall 
be together for ever. 

" pray ! pray ! This is your season, — a 
glorious harvest ! Put in your sickle and reap 
much — much is promised. Live, live ! Be 
a woman of God. Be a striver : learn that 
blessed track; it is only such who enter in. — 
Make this your daily work; and 'work it out 
with fear and trembling/ Dear Ann, do all 
God's will. I hope you are growing in grace. 



MEMOIR OF w. bramWell. 255 

I pray that you may. To receive the pardon 
of your sins is a great blessing, but too many 
rest in sins forgiven. I want you to receive all 
the salvation from sin, to live in constant union 
with God, to be all love; and this you will re- 
ceive in prayer. Plead with God : again I say, 
1 Strive to enter in/ all the mercy of God will 
be given. Learn all you can in every way. 
Study Christ Jesus. 

" Your affectionate father, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER XLIX. 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

"Sheffield, March, 1811. 

"My Dear Ann: — You are now entered 
upon another station in life. I suppose that 
you imagined your former state called you to 
make some appearance which was connected 
with your standing. In this I have always 
thought you were mistaken. However, on your 
leaving the school, even in your own idea, there 
is no further plea. I, therefore, as your most 
affectionate father, wish you by every means 
to consider how you may in the greatest degree 
ornament your profession. You are the daughter 
of a Methodist preacher : you see my station. 
You are a child of God, a follower of your 
Saviour. You will be noticed by all : all will 
watch, and you should expect it. 

" In the first place, let all your manners be 



256 MEMBER OP W. BRAMWELL. 

open, free, kind to all ; yet modest, serious, with- 
out the least gloom. Let your clothes be quite 
plain, — bonnet, gown, shoes, everything you have. 
But let them be always clean and good. Though 
dress is not religion, yet plainness is becoming. 
A well-dressed Quaker appears to me to be near 
a pattern. I wish you to be such, and not to 
hesitate for one moment; but, without saying a 
word to any one, determine in God to do so. I 
believe you will, and I shall rejoice. The greater 
the cross, the greater the glory. 

"Again, I wish you to improve your mind in 
proper books, to study the Scriptures in Hebrew, 
to read some part of the French Testament every 
day, and never to be much in company, except 
when you read to others, or are at some proper 
work. Study geography, and read biography. 
Let your times be fixed for private prayer, — say 
twice in the forenoon, and twice in the afternoon. 
Always see your next blessing, by reading the 
word ; and gain some ground every day. At cer- 
tain times visit the sick, and pray with them. 
Break through in this, and you will find great 
consolation : you will feel for them. I pray for 
you every day, that you may possess these vir- 
tues, and be all I desire. May your Heavenly 
Father give you every blessing ! I shall expect 
you to see us, as I have written; and we shall 
have great joy of you in Christ Jesus. 
" Your dear father, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 257 

LETTER L. 

TO HIS SON. 

" Sheffield, May 13, 1811. 

" My Dear John : — Your last letter has 
greatly endeared you to me ; for I must love you 
still more from the slightest confidence that you 
will love God. I esteem the things of time as 
nothing, when compared with everlasting glory; 
and wonder at man, (poor man !) who is but the 
creature of a moment, and yet so bent on ruin ! 
so difficult to be persuaded ! so hard to be moved 
to seek for salvation ! Happy ! truly happy are 
they who live to Him who died for them ! This 
disturbs no study, no learning, no proper labor : 
on the contrary, it fits and prepares the mind for 
every thing in life or in death. I am most truly 
waiting for my change. The anticipation of that 
glory which is to be revealed, ravishes my soul ; 
and from the persuasion that I shall have you 
with me, I am eaten up with joy. I think I per- 
ceive how you are prevented : you expect the end 
without the means. 

" When I saw my need of Christ, I believed 
(as you do) that I must be saved, and that none 
but God could save me. But I found I possessed 
a degree of power to ask and to pray • and I ex- 
ercised that power, praying for salvation repeat- 
edly during the day. Though I sometimes felt 
but little, yet I continued to beg according to the 
Scriptures, 'Ask, and ye shall receive : seek, and 
ye shall find/ The Lord drew my mind to con- 
22* 



258 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

verse with the people, to ask them to pray for 
and to reprove me, to correct and to search me 
This I found to be of great service, and I still 
see that this is the way of God with man. Use 
all the means of grace, for they can do no harm, 
but, under God, will produce the effect. Feel for 
the Church ; and you will soon be drawn to act in 
some little way for the glory of Him who gave 
himself for you. 

" If man be alive to temporal things, how 
much more should he be alive to the work of his 
salvation ! and to S strive' is the commandment. 
" Your dear father, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LI. 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

"Sheffield, March 4, 1812. 
" My Dear Ann : — 'All things ' are of God f 
and it is the duty of a creature to sink into his 
will. A Christian, a friend, a man of God, has 
left us. Thousands attended his funeral. I 
never saw such a crowd on any similar occasion. 
Such solemnity remains upon us as lays us in the 
dust. I often say, ' Let me die with him/ Soon, 
yea, very soon, we shall meet again. The family 
are much, but very properly, affected. It will, 
I trust, produce much greater salvation. I feel 
as if I could do nothing but pray : in this I am 
saved, and shall ever be saved through my God. 
What is earth ? All nothing, when compared 



MEMOIR OF W. BR AM WELL. 259 

with him ! One proper view of glory eclipses the 
whole ! 

" Live, my dear Ann, live ! may your life be 
devotion ! may it be entire salvation ! I thank 
you for your being so particular in your news : 
this is what I like; only just say in every letter 
your state of mind, which is to me all. 

" Your affectionate father, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LII. 

TO MR. SIGSTON. 

"Sheffield, March, 1812. 
" My Dear Brother : — The changes in this 
world greatly affect me. I am more than ever 
astonished at the forbearance of God. I have 
seen numbers lately who have never submitted 
until the hand of God was upon them ; but in 
their extremity they have called upon him, and 
he has saved them. Surely in the next world 
the different degrees of glory will be beyond all 
we can now conceive. I am so fully convinced 
of this, that I am striving every day to secure, as 
far as possible, the first degree of glory. how 
my soul is moved to labor for this ! Mr. Long- 
den's death has been of much good to many, and 
I believe the fruit will be found after many days. 
He made a blessed end. 

" Yours affectionately, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 
LETTER LIIL 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

" Sheffield, June 3, 1812. 
"My Dear Ann: — I hope the family and 
yourself continue in all proper exercise for the 
benefit of your body and mind, because time ap- 
pears to me exceedingly short. Our removals 
excite in me some keen feelings for children, re- 
lations, and particular friends. It matters not in 
what place upon this earth we stand. The Lord 
is always in every place, waiting to comfort his 
people, and to make his disciples holy and happy 
in himself. He wills that we should as soon as 
possible learn this lesson, — to live independent, 
to dwell in God, and God in us ; and this union 
to complete our joy in this world, and to raise us 
to glory everlasting. The company of angels, in 
our state of probation, would not alone be suffi- 
cient, much less the company of the nearest 
friends, without having Christ Jesus as our con- 
stant companion. To resolve upon private as 
well as public devotion, must be the conduct of 
God's children ; and by close examination of the 
influence of the Spirit, you will soon find the pos- 
sibility of coming to understand, in all friendly 
intercourse, when the call is to private meditation 
and prayer. You know, my dear Ann, what I 
want concerning this, — that you should answer 
the end of creation, redemption, the call of the 
Spirit, and the means of grace ; and this by a life 
of devotion, giving up yourself to a striving, to 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 261 

an agony, to that labor in Christ Jesus, which 
will produce the image of God, the perfect love, 
the perfect separation from all things which are 
not in the life of union with your Redeemer. 

" To be singular will be at the first your fear ; 
but look at your Lord, read his practice frequently 
in the New Testament, and consider how singular 
he was, and without the least fear of a frowning 
world. What is my duty ? This is the point, 
without the least regard to consequences. For 
this reason, retire from every company, however 
friendly, a number of times in the day. Mind 
not what looks or words you receive : stay in no 
place where you cannot do this. Go to no par- 
ties, without first knowing the persons, and what 
is likely to take place. Claim your liberty, by 
never consenting, contrary to sound judgment. 
Let nothing hinder the full salvation. Read what 
I have been preaching from several times lately, 
Phil. iii. 10, 11, 12. Look well into it, and 
make every purpose or promise your own. You 
are never in greater danger than when there is 
the form without the power : ' from such turn 
away/ 

" Make great improvement in the Divine life 
at the Bridge. Every thing in the house I hope 
will forward the work of your salvation. You 
will, most likely, have shortly to enter into public 
life. Take care to lay up a stock, and let no- 
thing be wasted. Give a good account to me and 
to God. We shall have to stand together in 
judgment. I shall be closely examined as to my 
conduct toward you, and you on the ground of 



262 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

receiving instruction. It is a day at which I 
often look. the change of views hy all the 
world ! the torment, the glory ! Stand by me 
here, and stand with me then and for ever. Have 
all things ready : receive every purchased blessing. 
1 Pray without ceasing, and in every thing give 
thanks/ The Lord write the above upon your 
heart, and bless you in all things. Live, live, 
till I meet you above ! ' I am ready to be offered 
up, and the time of my departure is at hand/ 
Pray for your father : pray for the Church : pray 
for the world. Plead, plead with God, and 
say, ' I will not let thee go/ 

"lam your affectionate father, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

At the Conference held in Leeds, in 1812, the 
friends in the Nottingham and Birstal Circuits 
wished to enjoy the labors of Mr. Bramwell; and 
as both parties were very urgent, it was deter- 
mined to take the sense of Conference on the 
subject, when a majority decided in favor of 
Birstal. 

The societies, both in the town and in the 
circuit, were at that time in a very low state. 
On the first Sunday that he preached in Birstal, 
he met the society, and observed, that "slow 
singing, long prayers, long meetings, and late 
attendance on the ordinances, were indubitable 
marks of a slow state of grace." He recom- 
mended them to be in their meetings precisely at 
the time appointed, to be brief in singing and 
prayer, and in general to close the meetings at 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 263 

the expiration of one hour. He also observed 
that he would neither speak evil nor hear it, con- 
cerning any one; and if any person attempted 
to act in such a disingenuous manner, he would 
instantly stop him, and expose his conduct to 
the persons concerned. He told them, that it 
was his regular plan to remain all night in the 
different places of the circuit to which he went 
to preach, and hoped the friends would accommo- 
date him with a bed : if it was a poor one he 
could sleep upon it, as he wished to see the 
members in the circuit. But knowing the in effi- 
cacy of the best-concerted schemes without the 
Divine blessing, he added, that all this would not 
avail without constant, fervent prayer ; and many 
will long remember the arguments which he then 
used to prevail upon the people to unite with him 
in this important work. He said, with an energy 
and feeling peculiar to himself, " I know a man 
that, on the bended knees of his body, prays for 
Birstal thirteen times a day, sometimes for hours 
together 1" 

His next step was to regulate the band-meet- 
ings. According to rule, he would admit none 
who did not enjoy justification by faith; and to 
those who professed this and applied, he gave 
band-tickets, recommending at the same time to 
every member of the public band to meet in 
private band, and to seek the blessing of entire 
sanctification. The leaders in Birstal had been 
met once every fortnight, but he determined to 
meet them once a week, and kept a list of their 
names. In every part of the circuit, after preach- 



264 memoir or W. BRAMWELL. 

ing on the week-nights, he examined the class- 
papers, and inquired after the absentees. There 
was a special examination of the leaders once a 
year, when he asked the following questions : 

First. Are you in debt ? 

Second. Do you enjoy a clear sense of your 
acceptance with God ? 

Third. And are you wholly sanctified ? 

Fourth. Are you punctual to the time of be- 
ginning, whether the members are present or not ? 

Fifth. Do you conclude in an hour ? 

Sixth. Do you attend to family prayer, morn- 
ing and evening ? 

When he came, several of the leaders met two 
classes; where this was the case, he appointed 
proper persons to take one of them, observing 
that no leader could properly watch over more 
than one class. When the Spirit of the Lord 
was poured out, (which was the case soon after 
his arrival,) and the classes increased in number, 
he divided them and appointed other leaders, 
observing that twenty souls were as many as any 
one person could attend to. He had a quantity 
of class-papers printed, with the following rules 
at the bottom : 

First. That every leader meet his own class, 
except in case of urgent necessity. 

Second. That he be punctual to the time of 
his meeting. 

Third. To sing not more than two verses at 
the beginning. 

Fourth. To be brief in prayer, and particularly 
to confine his petitions for those present. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 265 

Fifth. That several persons be asked to pray 
at the conclusion. 

Sixth. That the meeting conclude in an hour. 

Seventh. That the absentees be noted down, 
and visited by the leader in the course of the week. 

Eighth. That the leader be zealous in speaking 
to persons who come under the word. 

Ninth. That every leader labor to enjoy the 
blessing of entire sanctification, as a good qualifi- 
cation for his office. 

If any of the classes were in a low state, he 
privately spoke to some of the most lively leaders 
to visit them. 

This man of God, having thus taken every 
necessary step, and having engaged his colleagues, 
the leaders, and the members, together with him- 
self, in earnest prayer to God for a revival, the 
Spirit of the Lord was soon poured out, especially 
at Birstal and Gomersal. Many were brought 
out of darkness into marvellous light j so that at 
the Christmas-day love-feast, 1812, he gave notice 
that on the following day the new members should 
be publicly admitted at the chapel in Birstal; 
when a most pleasing sight was presented to the 
congregation, — about fifty converts, chiefly young 
persons, sat round the front of the gallery, to 
whom he read the rules of the society, asked them 
questions respecting the time and the manner of 
their conviction or conversion to God, and, after 
having put the motion respecting their subscrib- 
ing to the rules, he gave to each of them a copy 
with suitable advice, and concluded the service 
with solemn prayer. 
23 



266 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

In one of the local preachers' meetings, he 
asked every preacher his Christian experience, 
when he advised every man to speak and hear 
evil of no one : this counsel they all promised to 
follow. At the Easter-Sunday love-feast, 1813, 
the Spirit of the Lord was abundantly poured 
out, and many felt his saving power. Six or 
seven stood up successively to speak. Some 
declared they had received the pardon of sin; 
others, entire sanctification ; and many more 
were afterward found who had received the same 
blessing. 

Toward the close of his second year, he had a 
severe attack of the rheumatic fever. His illness 
commenced on the Saturday. Being unwilling 
to omit his appointment on the Sunday, though 
he could neither mount his horse nor dismount 
without assistance, 'he went and preached at 
Cleckheaton. Not being able to ride home, he 
went to Mr. Pearson's, of Gomersal, and re- 
mained there eight or nine days. His pain was 
very severe, but he bore it as a man of God, and 
was never heard to complain. He frequently 
said, " Glory be to God ! This is better than 
hell-fire 1" He constantly and fervently prayed 
with the family three times a day; and when he 
was so ill that he could not bear to be out of 
bed, he still continued his delightful exercise 
of prayer. 

One evening, when he was very sick, he fell 
out of his chair upon the floor. There happened 
to be only one person in the room attending him, 
who immediately attempted to lift him up, but 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 267 

not being able, exclaimed, " Mr. Bmmwell, 
what must I do t n As soon as lie was able, he 
replied, " Pray ! That always brings me out on 
the right side." Prayer was accordingly made, 
in which he fervently joined. Having at length 
been raised with difficulty upon the bed, he 
pleasantly observed, " Continue to pray : we shall 
never sink while engaged in that exercise." 

During this affliction, the friends were engaged 
in almost incessant supplication for his recovery. 
Two of the preachers were going to see him one 
afternoon during his indisposition, and hearing- 
some persons engaged in prayer in a house near 
the road, they asked a bystander if there was a 
prayer-meeting at that place, who replied, " Mr. 
Bramwell, our good preacher, is ill, and they are 
praying for his recovery." 

As long as he remained in this circuit, his 
conduct was truly exemplary. He used every 
possible exertion to promote the welfare of the 
Church and of the world. The Lord was pleased 
to crown his labors with abundant success; for 
at the expiration of the second year, it appeared 
that about five hundred had been added to the 
societj^. 

We subjoin only two letters written from 
Birstal, which show the sweetness of his com- 
munion with Grod, and his zeal for the Divine 
glory. 



268 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER LIV. 

TO HIS SON. 

"Birstal, August 20, 1812. 

" My Dear John : — I am more than ever per- 
suaded of the necessity of being at all times ready 
for that 'eternal weight of glory/ I have lately 
had a most blessed view of the ' world to come/ 
All things are dross when compared with Christ, 
and the glory of his kingdom. I hunger ! I 
thirst ! I pray ; and with all my heart dedicate 
my soul to God. 

"The world is in a strange state, as it appears 
to many. I see the Almighty going forth in his 
judgments; and there will be an end, but not yet. 
I do not expect to see it in my days. In this I 
may be mistaken; but there are many huge 
mountains to be removed, and none but (lod can 
accomplish the work. This he will do in his 
own way ) and who can say to him, • What 
doest thou?' The world to come is everlast- 
ing. I think much of its immutability. As 
soon as I leave the body, my state will be fixed 
for evermore. And yet wonder, heavens ! 
that man should be worse than the ox or ass ! 
He does not consider ! 

" I am your affectionate father, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

The following letter was addressed to a friend 
who had lost his second wife. It breathes Mr. 
Bramwell's usual spirit of commiseration, and 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 269 

evinces the great watchfulness which he exer- 
cised over himself : 



LETTER LV. 

TO MR. THOMAS JERRAM. 

"August, 1813. 

" My Dear Friend and Brother : — I won- 
der at the ways of God ! Yet, I am certain, he 
can do nothing but in infinite wisdom. Yet he is 
past finding out. The Lord provided you with a 
helpmeet j he gave her for a season, and then 
took her to himself. He most assuredly provided 
you another j but only suffered her to remain for 
a season. They are now before the throne, — 
happy souls, — where sorrows are all ended. We 
are left to mourn and share in the world of sorrow 
a little while, and he will come for us. We shall 
soon share 'the eternal weight of glory/ How 
necessary to be ready ! 

" I was this morning making the inquiry, ( Ara 
I ready ? Am I ready to leave the world this 
moment? Am I ready as an individual, as a 
preacher, as a husband, as a parent? Do I do 
all I can every day, in all respects ? my soul ! 
how is it? I may live much nearer: I may 
enjoy much more : I may have the fulness of 
God !' I immediately began to plead for such 
fulness of God, and will never rest without it. 

" I am certain all the glory belongs to them 
who believe. I hope we shall fully believe, and 
fully receive the grace of God. 
23* 



270 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

" My dear Jerrani, I feel for you : I would 
share in your bereavement. I thought when 
I heard it, 'How should I love to live with 
him a few weeks, to sympathize, to pray, and 
to sink into the will of God together !' I can- 
not tell how you will endure the absence; but 
I know God will help you in such a manner 
as shall be for his glory. He will counsel : 
he will give comfort ; yea, ' he will be with 
you/ he will never forsake you. I would advise 
you to labor to make the sacrifice to God : labor 
to commit the whole to him, though it be in 
agony. In this you will find consolation, because 
the will of God will be yours, his act will be- 
come yours : you will unite, and your language 
will be,— 'Blessed be the name of the Lord! 
Though he slay me, I will trust in him V May 
the ever - blessed ' God supply all your need 
from the riches of his glory by Christ Jesus/ 
Amen ! 

"As you intend to journey to Hull by Leeds, 
on your return I wish you to call upon us : we 
shall be glad to see you, and drink of your cup 
for a season. We shall have a comfortable 
spare bed ; and, if consistent with your busi- 
ness, you can tarry with us for some time. 
Please to say to Mr. Taylor, that I am sin- 
cerely desirous of seeing him at Nottingham; 
but collections, extraordinary collections, etc., 
etc., will, I fear, entirely prevent me. I have 
scarcely been a night from the circuit since I 
came, excepting at conference ; and I never 
was more bound to attention than at present. 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 271 

Give our love to Mr. Taylor and friends. God 
bless you ! 

" Yours, as ever, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LVI. 

TO MB. WILLIAM STONES. 

" Birstal, 1813. 

H My Dear Brother : — I waited for a letter 
from you, and received it at length with much 
pleasure. I am more than ever convinced of the 
great advantage we receive from entire sanctifica- 
tion. It preserves the soul in rest, in the midst 
of all the storms of life. It gives such satisfac- 
tion in every station, so much approves of the 
order of God, has such a proper look-out for his 
glory, a full deliverance from self, and such a 
strong desire for the good of our neighbor in 
every way. The world is gone, we live above, 
yea, we ' dwell in God, and God in us/ "We can 
speak when we will, and be silent at our pleasure. 
Such victory is gained, such salvation is accom- 
plished ! We are nothing, and feel it ; and we 
can do nothing without God ; hence we give him 
all the praise of every good thought and action. 

" ' Keep yourself in the love of God/ I have 
known several who have received it, and some 
who have lost it. We need not lose it. We 
may stand, for God is able to keep us for ever. 
Live in it, talk about it, preach it, and enforce it 
with all patience, with all kindness j and if you 



272 MSMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

do this, hell, the world, and numbers among the 
Methodists, yea, some leaders, if not preachers, 
will in some artful way seek to hinder your suc- 
cess. But what are you to do in your station ? 
' Pray without ceasing/ Be led 'like a lamb to 
the slaughter : be dumb, not opening your mouth/ 
At the same time, never be moved, never give 
the least way. I have known several who were 
beaten from their practice. What did the late 
J. Brown say to me on the subject? He was 
handled in a strange manner, and by those who 
should have lifted up his hands. But there is a 
day of judgment ! If there should be any thing 
extravagant in your manner, always be willing to 
acknowledge it ; but take care that you are not 
unawares drawn from the Life, and sink into the 
common mass of Death. 

" There never was a time when we preachers 
had greater need to tremble. And Satan's 
method now is to keep us in the dark. Labor to 
show yourself approved as a preacher. I would 
labor, sometimes night and day, to have good 
sermons. But take care that your end, in all 
your reading and study, be to save souls : keep 
this one end in view. There is too much labor 
now to be popular. It was said of one man at 
the Conference, that <he labored for an hour to 
make the preachers and the people think that he 
knew something.' poor labor ! Are not num- 
bers now thus laboring ? I see them, and I see 
they do nothing. How shall such give an 
account to God? A man goes into a circuit 
with this view, 'I am determined I will make 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 273 

this circuit know I am somebody V My brother 
Stones, the salvation of souls, and, if possible, a 
soul brought to God in every day's labor, is of 
the greatest consequence. We shall be glad to 
see you whenever you can come. Give my love 
to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. 

"I am yours very affectionately, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



274 memoir or W. BRAMWELL. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Mr. Bramwell's labors in London — His indisposition — Letters — His 
removal to Newcastle — Letters. 

In the year 1814, Mr. Bramwell was appointed 
to labor in the London West Circuit ; and from 
the ideas which he had previously formed con- 
cerning the gayety and dissipation of the metro- 
polis, that appointment was to him a source of 
considerable and painful perplexity. Indeed, his 
entrance on a new circuit was very generally a 
time of great conflict ; and therefore it is natural 
to suppose, that when about to engage in a 
spiritual warfare among the rich and the great in 
London, his mind would be unusually affected. 
However, he requested his Christian friends to 
unite with him in earnest prayer that the Lord 
of hosts might accompany him and crown his 
labors with abundant success. As he was well 
known in the Methodist Connection as an active 
leader in revivals, there were various and conflict- 
ing opinions respecting him ; in consequence of 
which, great numbers soon flocked to hear the 
new preacher. The following letter clearly ex- 
hibits his views and feelings on his entrance 
into this circuit : 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 275 

LETTER EVIL 

TO MR. THOMAS CROWniER. 

" Chelsea, 1814. 
" My Dear Brother : — I suppose you will 
by this time be returned from Scarbro'. I hope 
you have kept yourself in prayer, and in the love 
of God. Many lose ground at the watering- 
places ; and one cause may be, some go with- 
out reason, or have no proper argument for being 
there. God will keep us in his own way. No- 
thing can harm us if we be true followers of him. 

that we may increase with the increase of God ! 
" I had a sore conflict respecting my appoint- 
ment j but in my first meeting, the Lord poured 
out his softening Spirit. One man was so filled 
that he praised God aloud. I perceived at that 
time and since, that my coming here is of God. 

1 have had several extraordinary seasons, and 
have been generally well received. A number 
have been justified, and some awakened. I have 
been in all the chapels, and given many tickets. 
But we want Methodism, discipline, religion. 
The Lord, the Lord God of Israel, help and bless 
us in all we have to do ! I am weaker than ever, 
and nothing less than his almighty power can 
support me in this place. I have found a num- 
ber of children from different places, who now 
reside here ; several of whom I had not before 
known. This gives me joy. What shall we 
meet in the great day of God ? 

" Our situation in Chelsea is quite to our 



276 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

minds — a pleasant garden, etc. Yet we have a 
vast population around us. The society here is 
small and very low. A great debt rests on the 
chapel, and few seats have been let. We hope 
to see a change. God is able. We preach only 
twice on the Sunday, and meet the societies; 
and on week-nights about three times ; much the 
same as at Birstal. My regular walking to my 
places, etc., is about thirty miles per week. But 
the friends will provide me beds at some of the 
places. I am quite satisfied in being here rather 
than at any of the other places, for several rea- 
sons. what I feel when I consider the state 
of London ! Ten hundred thousand people ! 
Thirty thousand prostitutes ! But so few of God- 
fearing persons ! I often think of what the dis- 
ciples said to our Lord : ' Behold what manner 
of stones, and what buildings are here ! yet all 
shall be thrown down !' The thought of such 
numbers in the way to destruction, is nearly 
more than I can bear. Yet, with God, it is pos- 
sible to bear me up. Pour out thy Spirit, 
Almighty God ! Send us a flood from thy 
throne, and send it soon ! Amen and Amen ! 
" Your affectionate brother, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

It was not long, however, before the Lord 
made bare his arm, and gave his servant to see 
his good pleasure prosper in his hand. Some 
letters addressed to his friends, had we room to 
quote them, would show that all his previous 
fears concerning his new station were soon re- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 277 

moved, and that he was quite satisfied with his 
appointment. 

While he was thus successfully and pleasantly 
laboring in the Lord's vineyard, he was again 
called to experience great bodily affliction. From 
the following letters it will be seen that he had a 
return of his old complaint, the rheumatism, 
which, for a short time, rendered him incapable 
of labor, but which could not for a moment de- 
prive him of the consolations of religion. 

LETTER LVIII. 

TO MR. WILLIAM STONES. 

''London, January 9, 1815. 
" My Dear Brother : — I should have written 
to you long ago : I have only been prevented by 
another severe attack of the rheumatism. I 
am now recovering, but the disorder has not 
yet left my right hand, etc., so that it is 
with great difficulty I now am able to write. 
When I came to London, it was in an agony 
of prayer. I had power with God, and found 
universal reception. Effects were produced in 
every place, and in two love -feasts we had a 
shower. Numbers were set at liberty. I never 
had greater love and liberty in preaching. 
Preachers are all in love and peace. A mis- 
sionary, one who has been fifteen years abroad, 
supplied my place in my affliction. I have 
reason to believe I shall be in my work in a 
few days. The will of Grod be done ! Amen ! 
24 



278 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

I was not able to be at our quarterly meeting, 
but am told, (not certain whether my information 
may be correct,) three hundred new members 
have been added this quarter. I wonder at the 
mercy of God ! 

"Though I have been in the furnace, yet I 
assure you that I have had such views of the 
glory of heaven, and the torments of the damned, 
that, if I have strength I shall pour out such 
blessings and curses as I have never done 
before. that my God may be with me ! I 
thank God that you find yourself in your place, 
and that the work of God is seen among you. 
Never lose your edge. Keep a true Sheffield 
blade : let it be fine, but sharp.* Never rest 
till you can say, 'Thy blood cleanseth my soul 
from all sin.' to feel it, and then to preach 
it ! God will be with you. Invitations are 
now proceeding from several towns in France. 
The committee are sending preachers. There 
was never known a greater opening. Nothing 
as yet from Ceylon. I wonder what these lads 
can do without tongues ! 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



* In allusion to Mr. Stones's former occupation in 
Sheffield. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 279 

LETTER LIX. 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

" Chelsea, January 3, 1815. 

" My Dear Ann : — It is with difficulty that I 
can answer yours with my own hand, as a stiff- 
ness yet remains in both of them. But I am 
quite recovered from the disease, and have walked 
out several days. I shall be able, through the 
blessing of God, to preach in Chelsea Chepel on 
Sunday, and I hope then to proceed in the blessed 
work, in which I had success in London, without 
departing from my own way. Praise the Lord ! 
Friends have been exceedingly kind. 

" Your letter greatly refreshed us, and brought 
tears from us. You are not yet worn-out with do- 
ing us good : you shall all have your reward. You 
say but little about the child : I hope he is quite 
well. I perceived, before I left you, that you 
would all have one lesson to learn, viz., to love 
the child, but to live every moment in the sacri- 
fice. This the Lord has been striving to teach 
you. I hope you were all attentive to the voice 
of God, and can now say, ' Let William live or 
die, he is thine : do as thou wilt/ This is the 
glory of our dispensation — to love all in God. 
" Your affectionate father, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



280 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER LX. 

TO MR. THOMAS CROWTHER. 

"Chelsea, April 11, 1815. 

" My Dear Brother : — I have found it on 
my mind to write to you an account of my pre- 
sent state. I am able to go through all my work, 
and have been so nearly three months. My right 
hand remains stiff, and my fingers contracted. J. 
am yet weak in my ankles, and extremely weary 
after walking a few miles. I was worn down, and 
extremely thin in my body, but my great difficulty 
now is to prevent myself from growing too large. 

" I never found greater power in preaching, 
and I see blessed effects under almost every ser- 
mon. I never lived in so near a union with God 
as at the present. I do seek to be ready every 
moment. The views respecting God and ever- 
lasting life, given me in my affliction, were extra- 
ordinary. To retain a constant sense of the pre- 
sence of God, is our glory in this world. It is to 
live in him and always to feel it. This great sal- 
vation, — salvation from all sin — salvation into all 
the gospel glory, and to be changed into the same 
image ! I am lost in wonder, love, and praise ! 
may we drink still deeper into these wells of 
salvation ! You know how : prayer, constant, pri- 
vate prayer. I have lately been roused from my 
bed in the night, to. pour out my soul to God. I 
feel I never pray too much : it is my life, it is 
my all in him. 

" We have had great disturbance in London j 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 281 

but you would read of it. I was sorry to find, by 
the reports from our missionaries in France, that 
the priests were authorized, or suffered, to select 
the Bibles which the French took with them, and 
to burn them ; and that a great number sent to 
Spain were seized and sent back. Since that, 
you find an astonishing change in France. How 
wonderful that Bonaparte is permitted to return 
to his place ! Great events again ! I pray most 
earnestly to God to prevent, if it please him, the 
great shedding of blood. ' With God this is pos- 
sible/ Some of the most pious of our society, 
some officers and others, are called out again. 
The bustle is very great as a preparation for war : 
all hands are at work. I was preparing to go to 
Dunkirk, and this as privately as possible; for 
we had a congregation there ; but this is over for 
the present. I am persuaded, before much can 
be done on the continent, the whole of the super- 
stitious machine must be broken in pieces ; and 
by what means the Lord knoweth. Hasten thy 
coming, Lord ! 

" I remain your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LXI. 

TO ME. SIGSTON. 

" Chelsea, May 25, 1815. 
"My Dear Brother: — Notwithstanding my 
long silence, I have had you and your family 
24* 



282 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

upon my heart every day. I pray for you contin- 
ually, that you may experience all the salvation 
from sin, living perfect love, do all the will of 
God in this world, and that your teaching may 
(as it has done) answer two blessed ends, that is, 
produce the wisdom of man, and the power of 
God, among your pupils. Your plan of proceed- 
ing, in this respect, will discover the fruit of your 
labors, in time and eternity. how desirable to 
lay up a store in every way, to be ready for all the 
glory, to live in the fulness of God, to walk with 
him, feeling the closest union, the testimony 
that you please him. Pray that your preaching 
may be effectual : have always one end in view, — 
souls, souls, — the salvation of your hearers! 
Amen, Lord Jesus ! 

u You know I have been about three months 
in the furnace. The mystery of God ! ' I know 
not now V I cannot find it out, but I know he 
was with me. The glory I experienced was be- 
yond all I can now relate. I was filled with 
mercy. I could have shouted ' mercy' continually. 
Yet I never had so clear a view of the torments of 
the damned. It was shown me most clearly that 
the terrors of the law of the Lord are not attended 
to in our preaching so much as is necessary ; and 
you may depend upon it, this is one cause of our 
leanness. The world must be made sick : they 
must feel their need of Christ. what a view of 
this when in my sickness ! It was also made 
more plain to me that a full salvation through 
Christ is ever near to those who hunger. '( His 
blood can cleanse :' this is the song in heaven. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 283 

Since ray sickness I have had uncommon en- 
largement in preaching, and never saw greater 
effects. We might expect thousands to be united 
to us, and yet we have very few comparatively. 
There is a great stagnation of trade ; almost all 
persons in London upon the rack, etc., etc. I do 
think this proves a great hindrance to the word. 
The Spirit is quenched, and there is little or no 
prayer among those who get touched. I have 
seen some brought into liberty every week. In 
this my hands are borne up. I give Him, the 
everlasting God, all the glory. I remain weak in 
my ankles and feet, but am able to go through all 
my preaching and walking. I am not certain 
what I shall do at the Conference. I shall see 
my way. The faculty tell me London will not 
do for me in the winter, as I sweat a great deal 
in preaching, and have to walk home afterward, 
three miles or more. Thou, my Grod, wilt be 
my guide, even unto death. My right hand re- 
mains stiff, and I cannot write so well as I did; 
but perhaps you can read this. 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LXII. 

TO HIS SON. 

" Chelsea, June 3, 1815. 
" My Dear John : — I continue gaining 
strength in my ankles, etc. I wish nothing to be 
said at present about my staying at or leaving 



284 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

Chelsea. I am so blessed among the people, that 
I shall feel very reluctant to leave them ; and yet 
if, on the ground of the opinion of the faculty, I 
cannot stand the winter here, I shall act from 
duty. ' The Lord make my way plain V This 
shall be my prayer. 

" I remain your affectionate father, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

From the state of Mrs. Bramwell's health, as 
well as his own, it seemed to be the opinion of 
the physicians that it would not be proper for 
them to winter again in London. Mr. Bram- 
well's views and feelings upon this subject, as 
well as on the financial state of the Connection, 
are clearly expressed in the following letter : — 



LETTER LXIII. 

TO MR. THOMAS CROWTHER. 

"London, July 21, 1815. 
" My Dear Brother : — I received your letter, 
and am glad to find that you have done so well in 
the temporal matters of your circuit. I assure 
you, a number of circuits not far from you are in 
a much worse situation — Sheffield, Halifax, Hud- 
dersfield, etc. And a number of circuits not far 
from London are groaning under their weight. 
Hitherto the Conference have got out of their 
difficulties, but it has been in the wrong way : we 
have been thrown upon the rack more and more. 
My prayer is, that we may be so fast this Confer- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 285 

ence, tliat we may not be able to deliver ourselves 
without an entire change of system. that this 
may be the case ! Our collections are much too 
numerous, and the money is more than the souls 
of the people. A number of preachers are of 
the same mind. As to the letter of promise, I 
know we remonstrated ; and, in answer, there was 
an engagement to this effect, — ' Do all you can, 
and we must make it up/ To whom that letter 
was directed, or what became of it, I cannot tell. 
I thought you took it home. 

" I thank you for your care and advice. I am 
truly in a state of uncertainty. I must continually 
rest in the Lord. It being known that I have 
some thoughts of removing, I have petitions from 
every quarter, which circumstance too much affects 
me. But I dare not make my feelings my law 
for a moment. I may, if possible, see West- 
gate Hill, on Tuesday morning next; but this 
depends on my procuring a supply. This place, 
I am told, is too warm for my wife's complaint, 
and that she cannot be well here. I must leave 
my station till I see her, or have some good 
ground for expectation that she might return 
with propriety. From present circumstances, it 
appears I am called to remove. The Lord be my 
light and salvation ! As to myself, I am surpris- 
ingly strong; but I do think I am in danger of a 
relapse if I stay in London. To be in the cold 
so much after sweating in the chapels, is danger- 
ous. 

u Iam yours affectionately, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



286 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

In consequence of Mrs. Bramwell's ill slate of 
health, as well as from a fear that the winter might 
prove injurious to Mr. Braniwell, the Conference of 
1815 stationed him in the Newcastle Circuit. 

About this period, many persons were plunged 
into great temporal difficulties, in consequence of 
the want of trade, and the failures of several mer- 
cantile houses of great distinction. And as " one 
event," in this respect, frequently " happeneth to 
the righteous and to the wicked/ 7 some of the 
Methodists who had been before in good circum- 
stances, now lost the whole of their property, and 
experienced the truth of the declaration of Scrip- 
ture, " Riches make to themselves wings and fly 
away/ 7 The effect which these things produced 
on the mind of Mr. Bramwell, will appear from 
•the following letter : — 

LETTER LXIV. 

TO MR. THOMAS CROWTHER. 

"Newcastle, September 14, 1815. 
" My Dear Brother : — I ever call to mind 
the fellowship, the refreshing, the heavenly show- 
ers, the glory of God, when I was among you ; 
and I shall, I believe, have cause to praise my 
God for ever on that account. The Lord is the 
same yesterday, to-day, and to eternity. The 
light which has shone upon this nation has, in a 
very general way, been rejected; and the Lord 
is most assuredly scourging us for our disobedi- 
ence. Distress on every side ! Men's hearts 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 287 

failing them for fear ! Numbers trembling, oth- 
ers falling ! The daily changes greatly affect me. 
What numbers of our friends have been upon the 
list lately, and there must be numbers more. 
Circuits are increasing in debt : they cannot 
maintain their preachers ; they must have fewer, 
or go to ruin. If my plan had been adopted 
twelve years ago, it would have prevented all this. 
I know it would. But here we are looking at 
each other, and all are fast. Continual prayer, 
and doing all we can for souls in these times, is 
the way to keep up. But my feelings when 
among distressed families can only be borne up 
by the power of God. 

" I may see you on my way to Sheffield ; but 
all things are uncertain. May we every day look 
to God, and increase in all grace, that we may 
share in the everlasting glory ! We have a 
blessed work in some parts of this circuit. — The 
Lord be with you ! Amen ! 

" My hand is yet contracted : I can scarce 
write legibly. 

" Ever yours affectionately, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

Although the subject of this memoir had still 
to endure much personal affliction, yet his desire 
for the salvation of men seemed to become more 
ardent. The following records will show the 
state of his mind in this respect, and his patient 
yet eager waiting for the appearing of his 
Lord : — 



288 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER LXV. 

TO MR. JOHNSON. 

" Newcastle, October 26, 1815. 

" My Dear Brother : — It has been much 
upon my mind to give your family some account of 
our state, as I know that your good wishes for our 
welfare will lead you all to unite in our sorrows 
and our joys. It is but a little time since I re- 
ceived my wife at Newcastle. She was somewhat 
recovered when she came, but had a severe re- 
lapse, and was brought again into an extremely 
weak state. Within these few days, she has had 
a little more strength ; and may yet, through the 
blessing of Glod, be restored to her former state 
of health. But this is a doubtful case. ' Fa- 
ther ! thy will be done V We shall live together 
in eternal glory. I have continued in good 
health, only that in my right hand there re- 
mains some relics of the rheumatism. I am 
strong to labor, and find the blessing of God upon 
my little work. 

" I am, I do assure you, waiting every day for 
my change ) and I see the heavenly throng wait- 
ing for me. I long more than ever to be there, 
< where we shall see his face, and never, never 
sin.' The Lord poured out his blessing in our 
first love-meeting. Six or seven entered into lib- 
erty. I receive this from my Heavenly Father, 
as a token for good. In our second love-feast, 
none but the society were admitted. It was quite 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 289 

crowded, although held a few miles from New- 
castle. At the beginning all were quiet, and in 
considerable suspense for about an hour. But in 
an agony of prayer, suddenly the power of Grod 
came upon us all. Conviction was general : there 
were cries for mercy in every direction. I never 
was able to preserve greater order, and yet not 
fewer than thirty persons were set at liberty. 
This work continued about two hours, and I 
never witnessed greater glory. I have seen a 
number saved the last week in different places, 
and I hope the work will go on ; for, I do assure 
you, we need it at Newcastle, and in the circuit. 
Pray, pray ! and may the Lord hear you ! 
Amen ! 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER LXVI. 

TO MK. TURNELL. 

" Newcastle, 1815. 
" My Dear Brother : — I still find a strong 
inducement to continue our correspondence; and 
this, I trust, in the name of the Lord Jesus. The 
frequent changes and many deaths of our dear 
friends, ever call upon me to use the utmost dili- 
gence to grow in grace, to be ready, fully ready to 
meet God. I frequently long for his coming. I 
wait to see him as he is, to behold his glory, to 
see the company, and especially the number I 
have known, and who are now with him. What 
25 



290 MEMOIR O.F W. BRAMWELL. 

is all the world, or worlds on worlds, to compare 
with this ? What is labor ? What is suffering '{ 
What are fire and water, (supposing we were 
called to pass through them,) if &od is with us ? 
To see the Lamb and possess everlasting life, 
overbalance every thing else. 

" My wife is much better, but not well. She 
may still increase in strength. 

" We have seen a blessed work of God, but 
seem rather at a stand again. Yet it may break 
out with greater power, and I hope it will. Num- 
bers have been saved. The glory which has been 
revealed in different parts of this kingdom should 
make us all rejoice. ' The Lord ride on, till all 
be subdued V You will find our state of finance 
truly deplorable. O that the time may come 
when no circuit shall have more preachers than 
they will maintain : I shall then leave you in 
peace. 

" How are you in your own mind ? Do you 
keep clear in entire sanctification ? Do you 
grow ? Do you pray still more and more, and 
with greater pleading? Are you all alive, no- 
thing quenching, the heart all love ? 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

The reader will perceive, by these extracts from 
Mr. Bramwell' s correspondence, that he was led 
constantly to look for his change. The happy 
saint was gradually ripening for glory, and his 
conversation was more eminently in heaven. The 
subjoined letter to his daughter shows this still 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 291 

more plainly. He had received a secret intima- 
tion that his earthly course might be terminated in 
Newcastle. In anticipation of this event, he could 
joyfully say, " Thy will be done." 



LETTER LXVII. 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

"Newcastle, 1815. 

" My Dear Ann : — It is long since we heard 
from you, and I suppose you will say the same 
respecting us. I hope you will unite in praise to 
God, when I tell you I have received what I call 
an extraordinary baptism of the Spirit. I do not 
know that I shall preach any better, or look in 
any thing more like an angel ; but my soul has 
experienced such a fellowship with God and hea- 
venly things, as I never felt before. the glory 
which shall be revealed ! I am swallowed up in 
,him. 

" When I first came to Newcastle, I had, as I 
thought, reason to believe that I should be taken 
home from this place. The impression was such 
as made me speak of it to a few friends. In this 
I look up, and must say, < Thy will be done!' 
May I be ready every moment ! 

" Three weeks ago your mother had a serious 
relapse, being very ill indeed; since then she 
has recovered in a remarkable way. In her 
last sickness, by looking to God in prayer, I 



292 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

thought I received an evidence that she would re- 
cover from that time. So far I am correct : the 
Lord can heal. We are doing well in the circuit. 
God is with us ; but we wait for a much greater 
shower. Now, my dear Ann, live to God. Best 
in nothing short of a clean heart : plead for this 
several times in a day. — Believe: God must 
cleanse according to his word. Amen! The 
Lord grant it ! 

"I am your affectionate father, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LXVIII. 

TO MRS. PICKFORD. 

" Newcastle, 1816. 

" My Dear Sister : — I received your letters ; 
and the last to me were better than the first, be- 
cause you point out your superior state as it re- 
spects your union with the Lord. Salvation is 
come to your heart indeed. ' Love casts out fear : 
as he is, so are you in this world/ As he is sepa- 
rated, so are you separated from a world of evil. 
This gives you boldness in looking at the day of 
judgment, a clear witness, a clear view of God, 
of heaven. what satisfaction it yields to the 
soul ! I am certain much is bought for us. I 
am equally certain all is promised to us, and that 
he cannot fail to give this great salvation. He 
justifies, he purifies, he then stays the mind on 
himself; but he gathers us nearer, and still 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 293 

nearer, till we feel we live in the presence of God 
every moment. This is our place, and this is 
heaven upon earth. Whether poor or rich, in 
company or without, with our near relations or in 
their absence, the Lord is every thing to us, and 
every place is full of himself. We want no other 
heaven : we have all, and our God is this all. I 
long to see my particular friends, my relations, 
my brothers and sisters throughout the churches, 
live in this glory. Amen ! 

" I am certain you will in some way or other 
meet with tribulation : various changes will take 
place in this world in your family, and with your- 
self; (for we are not yet settled ;) but you will 
be ready to meet every change by constant watch- 
ing and prayer, and by keeping up a lively faith 
in God. Never expect your Heavenly Father to 
keep his covenant only on the ground of your 
acts of faith. This faith must be like the pen- 
dulum of a clock, — it must be kept moving, to 
put the whole soul in motion. And, as your 
faith increases, you will more quickly mount up, 
run faster, labor more, love more, rejoice more ? 
and drink the cup with greater cheerfulness. — You 
will be more thankful for every blessing, for your 
station, connections, and the instruments of your 
salvation. You will be more thankful for your dear, 
dear Mrs. Mortimer. Why did the Lord cast 
your lot so near her ? Was it not that you might 
have 'fulness of joy, and pleasures for evermore V 
Was it not that you might arrive at all the ful- 
ness of God ? praise him for ever. I congra- 
25* 



294 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

tulate you, I rejoice with you, I triumph in 
union with you. I find this most sweet and pure. 
God is in our fellowship. It will not he broken. 
It is from heaven, and altogether spiritual. It 
will increase to eternity. I long much to feel 
what it will be, when separated from this vile 
body. I never had more pleasant walks, by 
faith) in the heavenly country. I see the com- 
pany, and I live among them; for 'we are come 
to an innumerable company of angels, to the 
spirits of just men made perfect/ The manner 
is inexpressible, but the thing is certain. Faith 
is the evidence. Farewell ! The everlasting 
God be with you always ! 

"I am your* affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

In the following letter we have a striking 
proof of the sincere and faithful friend : 



LETTER LXIX. 

TO ME. THOMAS CROWTHEB. 

" Newcastle, June, 1816. 
" My Dear Brother : — Notwithstanding my 
long silence, my soul is ever toward you. Go- 
mersal and the circuit are near my heart. My 
prayer to God for you all is that you may still be 
saved, and, above all things, prosper in your souls. 
I think I never felt a greater longing for the sal- 
vation of the Churches, and of the world; and 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 295 

never so fully satisfied that it is God that ' worketh 
all in all/ I am giving myself to God, to receive 
a much deeper baptism, which I feel is my liberty 
in this world. I cannot rest in sins forgiven, or 
in being cleansed from all unrighteousness. I 
see the glory which belongs to me in our blessed 
Lord is for himself to dwell fully in my soul. I 
will praise him, I do praise him. But my 
little faith ! I must go, I must rise, I must live 
with him for ever. Amen ! 

"My wife is much established, but not quite 
clear of the disease. She has occasionally slight 
relapses. Perhaps she will not be sound till she 
receives the new glorious body. May she pray 
always, and never faint. We are doing well, but 
the work is not general. All around us are in 
tribulation. God only knows when the general 
conflict will be passed. God is in many places 
pouring out his flood of mercy even in troublous 
times. England has surely had a great day of 
heavenly visitation. It has been exalted to hea- 
ven. The Lord grant that it may not be cast 
down to hell ! I hope the ever-blessed God will 
continue to show you his glory. that the 
preachers, leaders, and all the societies may be 
alive to God ! 

" I trembled for you when I heard of your 
mission-feast, etc., etc. I much feared you would 
be flushed with outward appearances, and look 
into the feast-room, and be greatly encumbered, 
and sink down into the cellar with a load of 
worldly glory. My dear Crowther, excuse me, I 



296 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

thought you were proof against these things ; but 
you and I show ourselves to be but men. The 
Lord save us ! And may we sit together in 
glory ! 

" I am your affectionate brother, 

" William Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 297 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Mr. Bramwell's appointment to Salford — His zealous labors — 
Declining health — Letters. 

"We now enter on the last circuit in which this 
faithful servant of Christ Jesus was permitted to 
labor. The Conference appointed him to Salford 
in 1817. From all the accounts of those who 
were favored with his presence, it appears that 
he was fully persuaded that his work was nearly 
finished, and that the time of his departure was 
at hand. Few Christian ministers have had more 
intimate communion with God, or have evinced a 
greater portion of self-dedication than Mr. Bram- 
well. His heavenly conversation and zealous ex- 
ertions in the cause of his Divine Master are thus 
described by Mr. James Grime : 

" Lamenting with others the loss sustained by 
the removal of one so eminently useful among us, 
as the late Mr. Bramwell was, I have found my 
mind thrown back upon the events of the year 
which has passed, in order to collect a few of the 
fragments which remain in my remembrance, of 
the labors of a man endeared to us by the con- 
sciousness we had of his being, like Abraham, 
1 the friend of God/ a man mighty in faith, strong 
in prayer, enjoying constant union and com- 



298 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

munion with God. that not a look, nor a 
word of so great, so good a man, may fall to the 
ground ! May God make the memoir about to 
be published a blessing to every reader ! 

"At the time when Mr. Bramwell was ap- 
pointed to this circuit, we had petitioned for 
him seventeen years ; and at length we obtained 
our wishes. The expectation which had been 
formed was not disappointed. In his first ad- 
dress, he stated the duties of ministers of the gos- 
pel, and his determination to labor after that 
model. ' I shall call upon you/ he said, ' not to 
eat, drink, or spend the time in conversation with 
you upon different subjects, but ask you concern- 
ing the state of your souls/ 

" His method of preaching was peculiar to 
himself; for sometimes he made choice of very 
singular passages from the prophets. Notwith- 
standing which, before he had finished, they 
were made very plain to the understanding. The 
metaphors of the inspired penmen were also ap- 
plied in a remarkable manner to every individual, 
either as a private character, or as a member of a 
Christian community. Whoever remembers the 
following texts, out of many others, will already 
have made the same remark : Isa. vi, 1-5 ; xliii. 
1, 2; li. 9-11; liii. 1, 2; lviii. 11, 12; lxii. 10- 
12; Jer. xiv. 7-9; Lam. iii. 31-39. 

" On one occasion Mr. Atmore said, ' None 
but Mr. Bramwell could have preached from such 
a text.' One idea generally prevailed in some 
mode or other, and formed the basis of almost all 
his discourses — that every Christian man should 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 299 

stand in his place, filled with the Spirit of God, 
and thus be qualified for the performance of every 
duty. 

" How powerful was his call ! c Preachers ! 
leaders ! prayer-leaders, and people !' and some- 
times his zeal was so great that not an office of 
any kind escaped his notice. l Singers and door- 
keepers !' resounded through the chapel. So im- 
pressive were his calls to enter into the fulness 
of every gospel privilege, that every head has 
often been bowed down, and hundreds pricked to 
the heart. 

"According to his own account, he seldom as- 
cended the pulpit without strong conflicts. Per- 
haps his soul had been wrestling with God in 
mighty prayer that the glory of the Redeemer 
might appear. But the nature of those conflicts 
he never mentioned. When, however, he had 
entered upon his duty, and sometimes even as 
soon as he entered the pulpit, his soul became un- 
burdened ; in the midst of his sermon he would 
obtain full liberty. Enraptured with the glories 
of heaven, and filled with holy fervor and zeal, he 
would lose sight of his presence in the body. At 
such seasons the Spirit's influences were shed 
abroad ; and if there was a heart that felt not, 
surely that heart was hardened by wilful preju- 
dice, or had become a willing captive to a Laodi- 
cean spirit. The inhabitants of Manchester, Sal- 
ford, and Pendleton, remember many of those 
seasons, with a mixture of the most exalted feel- 
ings. Those of Barton will never forget the last 
love-feast which Mr. Bramwell held among them, 



300 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

when upward of thirty souls were set at liberty. 
On that occasion he informed me that for nearly 
two hours he did not know whether he was in the 
body or not. The fervor of his spirit often led him 
into an involuntary poetic strain, little inferior to 
those celebrated compositions which have given im- 
mortal honor to the name of Dr. Young. I did in- 
deed think that he had composed some piece 
which described the warfare and triumph of a 
Christian, and that at these times he was gene- 
rally quoting himself. This mode of delivery was 
of frequent occurrence. 

u He usually met the society after preaching on 
a Sunday evening, when that holy fervor whieh 
he had felt during preaching was far from being 
evaporated. He appeared unwilling to leave his 
post : ' Suffer me, suffer me/ he would often re- 
peat. During preaching also he used the same 
expressions, as well as ' Bear with me, bear 
with me V so importunate was he, and yet so feel- 
ing ! and as often he returned to the charge. In 
the midst of the closing benediction, he has fre- 
quently resumed singing, with ' Praise God from 
whom all blessings flow/ etc., when the chapel, 
instead of being emptied, has been filled with 
fresh incense. In short, if Mr. Bramwell had re- 
ceived at his first coming among us a clear dis- 
covery of the particular time of his departure, he 
could not have labored with greater earnestness. 
On the Sabbath before he left us for Conference, 
one of his texts was from Phil. ii. 8, ' For G-od 
is my record, how greatly I long after you all in 
the bowels of Jesus Christ/ ' When he sees 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 301 

Pendleton coming up the mount of God/ accord- 
ing to his ardent prayer well remembered, ( and 
heaven's host resounds the news/ they can and 
will and must bear testimony, * how greatly he did 
long after them all in the bowels of Jesu3 Christ/ 

" Whenever he met an old professor enjoying 
the love of God, and ready to depart, he would 
say, < Well, my friend, it cannot be long before 
you take possession of the kingdom. When you 
get there, tell them who are already in heaven, I 
am following hard after you, and shall not be 
long/ ' I go/ said he, in one of his sermons, 
' many times in a day to look over this estate of 
mine/ To a friend who said, i This is my birth- 
day/ Mr. Bramwell replied, l Well, if you live as 
long again wholly devoted to God, you will 
then become a holy man indeed/ The attain- 
ment of entire sanctification was what he would 
constantly impress upon the minds of all who en- 
tered into conversation with him. Too many, he 
feared, are only outward-court worshippers, when 
it is their privilege to enter into the holy of 
holies. 

" To live dead to the world, and ever prepared 
for a dying-hour, was his constant subject. This 
he would enforce by many familiar similes. ' If/ 
said he, 'the call should be at midnight, can you 
arise and at once willingly and cheerfully obey 
the summons? if at noon-day, are you ready? 
Is every thing in its place ? Can you obey with 
the same alacrity with which you would run to 
the door upon hearing a loud rap ? Or is there 
something to be set in order, before the call can 
26 



302 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

be attended to V He also observed that, if not 
both willing and ready in every moment of time 
to attend the summons of death, we were not fit 
to die. Preaching and conversing after this 
manner, his appointed time at length arrived, and, 
as he had taught, so he had learned to obey. 
The almighty and all-wise Disposer of events was 
well pleased; and impressed the whole with 
the broad seal of Divine approbation, saying, 
( Come up hither V and he was suddenly from 
earth released. 

"The week before Mr. Bramwell went to Con- 
ference, he called at a friend's house in the after- 
noon ; and during his short stay he prayed not 
less than six times, with uncommon earnestness, 
and in reference to some particular circumstance : 
whatever that might be, he was enabled between 
the intervals of prayer to praise God with equal 
fervor. His knowledge of the human heart was 
so deep, that it has been emphatically said of him, 
he was truly a discerner of spirits. Many exam- 
ples might be given, if living, well-known charac- 
ters were not implicated. With the pious and 
learned Archbishop of Cambray, he knew ( there 
is a simplicity which is a wonderful virtue ;' of 
this virtue he was in full possession. He was a 
recollected soul. He was never absent, except 
when, with uplifted eyes, he looked at his estate ; 
and this he could not avoid, even in the midst of 
company. He often lamented that Mr. Fletch- 
er's letter on recollection was not more generally 
known. Of the reverse of this state he was ac- 
customed to observe, that it was a dissipation of 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 303 

mind and of soul. He frequently said, ' I feel as 
if I could like to go to heaven next week/ 

" His familiar anecdotes and similes were made 
uncommon blessings. At a meeting of the society 
at Pendleton, he noticed many of the hindrances 
which prevent God from taking full possession of 
the soul. These he considered as idols. He gave 
an account of a canary-fancier, — a professor of 
religion, but a mourner in Zion. Mr. Bramwell 
having seen the birds, and heard a description of 
their various beauties and excellences, observed 
to the man, ( Why, these are your gods!' The 
man was offended; but upon serious considera- 
tion, he felt the force of the remark, cut off all 
the heads of the poor canaries, applied to a throne 
of grace, and his soul was almost immediately set 
at liberty. At the same meeting another bird- 
fancier felt the force of this remark, and instantly 
disposed of his birds ; and although he was then 
in perfect health, he sickened soon afterward, and 
within the space of fourteen days after the meet- 
ins:, died happy, triumphantly happy in the love 
ofGod." 

The letters which Mr. Bramwell addressed 
from Manchester to his various friends, increase 
in interest as he approached nearer to that coun- 
try, the inhabitants of which have no need to 
say, a Iam sick/' 

LETTER LXX. 

TO HIS DAUGHTER. 

"Manchester, 1817. 
" My Dear Ann : — Having an opportunity of 



304 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

writing by a friend, I am led to say that we 
are in a prosperous state. I do think your 
mother and myself never lived so near to God, 
and I hope we shall still increase in that blessed 
union. ..... 

"I have you much on my mind, with your 
dear John. How is the work of salvation going 
on ? Are you given to prayer ? Have you confi- 
dence in Grod that he can cleanse from all sin ? 
Do you believe he is willing ? Do you seek it by 
faith alone ? Do you plead and bring it to the 
present time ? Are you quite determined to re- 
ceive it, or to perish crying out ? Do you thus 
strive to enter in ? Do you live in the daily sac- 
rifice of yourself and children to God ? how I 
long for your full salvation, your living in God al- 
ways, receiving all in union with Christ, your be- 
ing one with him ! Do let me hear in your next, 
(and let it be by the return of the bearer,) that 
the Lord is come, that he hath cleansed your 
heart, that you can witness, without fear, of the 
perfect love. cry, cry to God mightily ! Never 
rest till pure within. I pray daily for you. Do 
let me have an answer from God. Let me have 
my Ann and John to live in this salvation before 
I die ! Let me see this fruit in my Ann ! If 
you knew my concern, surely you would, even on 
this account, pray without ceasing, * I will not let 
thee go, I will not, till my suit prevail !' From 
this time I will myself look up, and I will look 
for your answer to my satisfaction. I shall then 
return my God most hearty thanks for you. I 
will kneel down and give him glory. Our love to 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 305 

all in the house. The Lord bless and reward you 
all a hundred-fold ! Our love also to Dr. Taft. 
" Your dear father, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

The subjoined letter to an old friend and be- 
loved yokefellow, is most affecting : — 



LETTER LXXI. 

TO MR. ROGER CRANE. 

"Manchester, September 3, 1817. 

" My Dear Brother : — Since my last rheu- 
matic attack, my right hand has continued con- 
tracted, so that I find a difficulty in writing ; but 
I am sure it is high time to answer your very 
affectionate letter. I can assure you it had such 
an effect upon my mind, that it laid me in the 
dust with tears. my brother ! we have passed 
through much tribulation, but the Lord has won- 
derfully preserved us from falling. I am lost in 
astonishment when I look to our former and past 
acquaintance. It is by the mighty power of God 
that I continue. how near have I been at va- 
rious times, how near being overcome ! But an 
alarm has been sounded in my ears, and I have 
been- snatched as a brand from the burning. You 
will unite in praises to Him who has preserved 
me in justification, in sa notification, in love, in 
union with God, — living in his presence, and 
waiting for my change. I have had to do with 
26* 



306 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

all sorts of persons, with extreme afflictions, and 
with the face of devils ; but all is love. This 
bears, believes, hopes, and endures : it never fails. 
I hunger, I thirst, I pray and believe. Yet all is 
of him, never weaker, yet never so strong. 
this full salvation, this full salvation ! He bought 
it, he promised it, he imparts it. G-lory, everlast- 
ing glory be to the Lamb of God ! 

" Forgive me when I say to you, my life is 
now prayer. I feel the need of this continually, 
and can only live in this duty. I hope you will 
join me in this, though absent in body. A little 
while, and he will come. You and I will soon 
have done. Let us be ready, always ready to 
meet our Lord. All is fixed for ever when we 
leave this world. We can never alter afterward. 
May this sink deep into our hearts, and may we 
receive a full reward I 

" Yours, truly, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LXXII. 

TO MR. RE AY. 

" Manchester, Nov. 6, 1817. 

" My Dear Friend and Brother : — I have 
for some time expected a letter from you. I 
thought I would wait no longer, but make free to 
write, to inquire about all things, as I am greatly 
interested in the affairs of your family and circuit. 
We are much better in health than I expected. 
Indeed, the Lord has been so gracious, that Mrs. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 307 

Bramwell has been better than I have known for 
three years. Yet she has at times some forebod- 
ings of the return of the disease ; but is hitherto 
saved. We have a good house, and but too well 
furnished. The friends are too kind in this re- 
spect. I have scarcely been a night in town or 
country, but I have seen effects in the societies. 
I determined I would never preach without meet- 
ing the society, and God has owned me in this, 
in every place. I have crowds to preach to, espe- 
cially in Salford. I have not seen a general in- 
crease from the world : I hope I shall see it. In 
a love-feast in the country, on Sunday week, for 
about two hours there was a general work of God, 
when about twenty, at least, were truly saved. 
Glory rested upon us all. In the bands of Sal- 
ford, I have seen as many as seven or eight saved 
in a meeting. Full salvation; quite clear, is 
the order of the day. Praise the Lord ! I do 
hope the work will reach the wicked : may I 
see this as in former days ! In entering into my 
own country, near my native place, you cannot 
conceive what a number of invitations I have had 
to preach anniversary sermons, and school ser- 
mons, etc., etc. As it is my confirmed opinion 
that the cause of God is exceedingly suffering on 
the ground of such visits, I have given them all 
up. Give my love to all the preachers, and to 
the members of your society. 

" Your ever affectionate brother. 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



308 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

LETTER LXXIII. 

TO HIS SON. 

" Salford, December 23, 1817. 

" My Dear John : — I received your kind let- 
ter with love and praise to God our Heavenly Fa- 
ther that you are preserved in health, and I hope 
in stronger resolution to live to Him who suffered 
for us ! — You know that we are every moment 
dependent upon him for all things. ( We live, 
and move, and have our being in him/ Yet all 
is of God. To be clear in pardon for all our sins, — 
to be pure in heart, — to live in love, this is hea- 
ven on earth. What is all the world compared 
with this ? We are easy, which way soever we 
look. All is calm. Eternity only increases our 
happiness j yea, even death has lost its sting : all 
is joy, and the utmost delight. To live in profes- 
sion is so far well. But to enjoy the kingdom, — 
to live in God, — to have union with him, — to 
bear his image, — to glorify our God, — and finish 
the work, — this is our grand business on earth. 

" I never had so strong a desire that you may 
live for eternal glory. I pray for it continually. 
I am with you sleeping and waking. let me 
be with you for ever ! If you give yourself to 
pleading prayer, all will be done; especially if 
you come to God through the Mediator, all will 
be given you. Be importunate and say, ' I will 
not let thee go.' To be great in this world is no- 
thing j but to be great in the sight of Jehovah, 



MEMOIR OF W. BR AM WELL. 309 

— to be proclaimed in heaven as great, — to be 
crowned with glory and had in everlasting re- 
membrance with God, — to unite with me in con- 
templating the Divine perfections, — and to stand 
before the throne, — how glorious ! the com- 
pany! the enjoyment! the duration ! — I am lost 
in wonder and astonishment : the foretaste of that 
meeting enraptures my soul. I long for that 
situation : all immediately, and to all eternity. 
Praise him, ye angels ! ye saints of God ! ye 
glorified ! 

" Yours affectionately, 

"Wm. Bramwell." 

The two following extracts of letters to his son 
show that he received warning of his work being 
nearly finished, and contemplated the termination 
with holy composure : — 



TO THE SAME. 

"Charles street, Manchester, January 15, 1818. 
" I am very well at present, but I feel infirmi- 
ties coming upon me, and have serious thoughts 
of giving up travelling the next Conference. 



TO THE SAM 



"Manchester, April 21, 1818. 
n I have not made public my present state of 



310 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

infirmity, (I mean the asthma,) which becomes 
troublesome to me in every capacity. I have not 

made known to any person, except , my 

intention of giving up itinerancy. If the Lord 
see it good, he can lay me aside. I shall know 
what to do. I believe he will direct me. I never 
had greater liberty in preaching, and never was 
more blessed. The will of God be done V 



LETTER LXXIV. 

TO MB. ZECHAKIAH TAFT. 

" Manchester, April 27, 1818. 

"My Dear Brother: — It has been some 
time on my mind to send you a friendly letter, to 
speak of my situation, and to request an answer. 
I am more than ever given to prayer, and enjoy 
much more friendship with my God. I feel a 
great desire to be in glory. To be cleansed from 
sin is great ; but to be filled with God is much 
greater. O may I depend upon him for every 
thing, for time and for eternity ! Amen, Lord 
Jesus ! 

" When I came to this circuit, I found I must 
carry heavy weights; and have had to carry them 
in much silence, and, I hope, with some patience. 
I want to be as the lamb, 'duinb before the 
shearers. 7 In two love-feasts, I have seen a glori- 
ous work : in each, twenty souls were brought to 
God. I see crowded congregations, and some 
hundreds have been added. As a vast number of 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 311 

children were taken in before I came, numbers 
have gone back to the world. Young persons 
should never be in society without a real work of 
grace : I hope ever to abide by this discipline. 

" I again tremble for the Connection : tempo- 
rals are in a ruinous state. What can be done ? 
All are fast again. Wales is awful. 

" My wife has been dangerously ill, but is greatly 
recovered. I am your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LXXV. 

TO MR. REAY. 

"Manchester, May 11, 1818. 
" My Dear Brother : — I have this day re- 
ceived your letter. It has been my expectation 
that you would frequently hear of us by son 
George. That, and my waiting to find, if possi- 
ble, a time for coming to see you, prevented me 
writing sooner : this is the true cause. I am 
glad for the salvation you have lately experi- 
enced : you are spared to increase in the love 
of God. Let it be your grand business to receive 
a full reward. We are exceedingly liable, as 
preachers, to lose ourselves in outward business — 
I mean in means, forms, etc. ', and you are liable 
to lose yourself in worldly business, and not to do 
all things with an eye to God, which will prevent 
the close fellowship, the heaven of loving God 
alone. I could write it twenty times over to you, 
that it is continual prayer, with strong faith, 



312 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

which will produce every effect. You know how 
many slide back in the necessary ordinances: 
some by improper hearing; some by improper 
prayers; some in singing; some in teaching; 
many in sacraments. The eye is taken from God, 
and a want of power runs through all the means. 
•Hence, we are neither cold nor hot. my dear 
Reay, be alive, be a man of God, be in the Spirit, 
be a flame of heavenly fire. Burn, yea, burn for 
God and for souls. I know your station : I know 
you will be shot at. I know every plan will be 
used to ruin you. Be all on your watch. Sus- 
pect every thing that does not present the meek 
and lowly Jesus. Have nothing but what he 
holds forth to you. Keceive all by Christ, and 
from Christ. Be satisfied in having him for your 
all. Be clear in full salvation without a doubt. 
You will then produce deep conviction in others. 
I want you to live fully, to live for ever, to live 
in all the glory, and to be changed into it 
more and more. The Lord seal these things 
upon your heart ! Amen ! If I could take hold 
of your hand, it would be the highest gratification 
to me in Christ Jesus. I am receiving more 
love : it comes by drops after agony of prayer. 
My soul becomes less than ever; but God is all 
I want, at all times. I have been astonished at 
the power I have received in preaching, and at 
some effects. God is yet with us indeed. Give 
my love to your class and to the society. 

"lam your affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 313 

LETTER LXXVL 

TO MR. 1URSELL. 

"Manchester, June 12, 1813. 

" My Dear Brother : — I waited long, ex- 
pecting a letter from you ; but when I received 
it, I was glad to hear of the goodness of God to 
you and yours. Salvation is from the Lord, and 
we will ascribe all the glory to him. He is wor- 
thy. I never was so much taken up with the 
Divine perfections as at the present time. To 
dwell in God is our place while on earth ; and 
this is perpetuated by acts of faith. Faith real- 
izes the glory ; for though we cannot see, yet we 
see all things in believing, make all that he is our 
own, and feel all the liappy effects on the mind. 
Thus faith changes us more and more : we are 
taken up in the fullest union, — 'hid with Christ in 
God/ ready and always waiting to leave this 
body, ' that we may be clothed upon with our 
house in heaven.' Glorious company! Glorious 
place ! I long, I wait for his coming. Come, 
Lord Jesus ! come quickly ! Amen. 

" We live in Manchester, in which place we 
have about six hundred members belonging to 
Salford Circuit. I have seen numbers saved 
since I came. Many have received full salvation, 
and live in clear liberty. Many are in distress 
in temporal things. Wages are exceedingly low, 
so that numbers have little more than half meat. 
It is said that things will mend ; for this I pray, be- 
cause the sympathy is sometimes too great for flesh 
27 



314 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

and blood. ' Father, thy will be done I' ' Yet, 
if possible, let this cup pass from us/ My wife 
has had her health much better lately, and for 
this we will praise the Lord. Bless the Lord, 
my soul ! My brother Turnell, there is a dark 
cloud hangs over the Connection, as it respects 
temporal matters. Collections are becoming so 
numerous, Methodists are engaged in so many 
new things, that it requires great and too great 
exertion to accomplish our own money matters. 
We are all upon the rack, and religion is now too 
much swallowed up in other concerns. I tremble 
for Zion. Can we return to our simplicity ? Is 
it possible ? 

" I am your very affectionate brother, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 



LETTER LXXVIL 

TO HIS SON. 

" Manchester, July 2, 1818. 
" My Dear John : — Believe me, I am more 
concerned than ever for your eternal welfare ; for 
I have lately been much impressed with these 
words : ' I am ready to be offered up, and the 
time of my departure is at hand.' I long to say, 
i I have fought the good fight, I have finished 
my course, I have kept the faith/ The heavenly 
world is more than ever in my view. O the 
change, the glorious change which must then 
take place ! I feel a considerable degree of asthma, 
and although I labor to keep it from public 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 31 

view, yet I have found it sometimes very diffi- 
cult. 

" Your affectionate father, 

" Wm. Bramwell." 

LETTER LXXVIII. 

TO MRS. REAT. 

n Manchester, July 16, 1818. 
" My Dear Sister : — Tour frequent indispo- 
sition may have appeared mysterious, both to you 
and to your dear husband, as many of God's 
works do to us in our present state of existence ; 
and yet we may, with the utmost confidence, pro- 
nounce his doings in infinite wisdom. It will be 
to your utmost satisfaction to continue in this 
view and feeling of his proceedings. I more than 
ever wonder at his working ; but can follow every 
wheel with a shout of ' Glory V Well might the 
morning stars sing together, and all the sons of 
God shout for joy ! He has done all things well. 
Your salvation from indwelling evil, I hope, is 
complete, — your receiving the witness of the all- 
cleansing blood, — your being made perfect in 
love, — your dwelling in God and God in you. 
Then there is no torment, no dread of death, 
eternity, judgment, etc. This view makes all 
calm, and fills the soul with Divine consolation. 
It is heaven, already heaven ! Happy, happy 
spirit ! thy guilt is removed, and the soul is filled 
with God. Every thing within, without, around, 
above, beneath, increases the smile. What is 
pain ? All is God, and God is all. 



316 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

a I should be exceedingly glad to see you be- 
fore your flight ; for it may be suddenly. Your 
poor flesh can only bear a little, very little ; but 
I suppose you have no objection. Well, the will 
of God be done ! Remember where you are go- 
ing. I cannot think of it without desire, without 
joy. the numbers that are waiting for us ! 
Will not the next meeting swallow up all sorrow 
of parting ? Yea, for ever, for ever. Look up : 
you will shortly be crowned with immortality, 
with eternal life. Yet I am confident that we 
cannot detach anyplace from God's presence, from 
the whole. If so, his glory is here, at Carville, 
the same as in heaven. And we may live in that 
glory here. Faith brings it in, and increases it 
even so much that we feel changed into it more 
and more. I now live in this glory more than 
ever, and am waiting to meet you, to receive my 
glorious body, that we may see face to face what 
we all now are only able to see by faith. The 
change will astonish us, will astonish all the saints 
in glory. We ought to do nothing in this world, 
but as a help to this glory ; and if we esteem any 
thing, merely to serve the body, to the injury of 
the soul, we thereby prove that we prefer the 
body to the soul. The Lord be with you in 
affliction, in health, (if permitted,) in life and in 
death. Amen, and Amen ! 

" I am your affectionate friend and brother, 
" Wm. Bramwell." 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 317 



CHAPTER XV. 

Mr. Bram well's arrival at Leeds — His attendance on the busi- 
ness of Conference — His conversation, preaching, and the circum- 
stances of his death— His funeral. 

The writer of this memoir is indebted to a 
friend for the following account of Mr. BramwelFs 
short residence in Leeds — a subject, the recollec- 
tion of which will long excite the most powerful 
sympathies in the minds of those who were con- 
cerned in the affecting closing scene : — 

" Mr. Bramwell's last journey commenced on 
the 28th day of July, in the year 1818. On the 
morning of that day, he took a place in the Man- 
chester coach, and proceeded to the house of his 
affectionate friend, Mr. Sigston, of Queen Square, 
Leeds, his usual place of abode whenever his duty 
called him to sojourn in that town, or to pass 
through it. His host and hostess possessed views 
and feelings congenial to his own, being warm 
admirers of his piety, and imitators of that zeal 
and devotedness for which he was greatly dis- 
tinguished. In their society he always appeared 
to be at home j and those happy, edifying in- 
terviews which many religious friends enjoyed 
with him in Mr. Sigston' s house, will never be 
erased from their recollection. 

" It was on the evening of the same day, that 
27* 



318 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

he arrived at this favorite abode. He came there 
for the purpose of attending on his duties in Con- 
ference, which was held that year at Leeds. 
The series of letters presented to the reader, will 
have evinced the solicitude which, as a Methodist 
minister, he uniformly felt for the affairs of the 
Connection. The financial embarrassments under 
which the body had been laboring for some years 
were lamented by him, because he thought they 
might, in a great measure, have been avoided; 
and they were a further subject of grief to him 
on account of their being real hindrances to the 
planting of the gospel in other places. Economy 
in expenditure, and less of worldly show and 
costly ornament in our places of public worship, 
were at once the preventives and the cures which 
he prescribed for this malady. But his great 
concern was not about outward things : he thought 
much and deeply about the inward declension 
which he feared was too perceptible in the modern 
race of Methodists. He longed to see the resto- 
ration of all that ancient simplicity, that genuine 
attachment to the Redeemer, and that unaffected 
charity for all men, which were 'the characteristics 
of the early professors. These circumstances, 
connected with the temporal and spiritual pros- 
perity of Methodism, compelled him to a close 
attendance during the sittings of Conference, that 
he might hear every thing that was suggested for 
the mitigation of existing evils, and that he might 
contribute his portion of advice, which he always 
gave with modesty and firmness. 

" In the intervals between each of the sittings; 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 319 

he enjoyed himself at his friend's house in con- 
versation that was at once exhilarating and profit- 
able. At such moments he shone as the en- 
lightened minister and the pleasing companion. 
His presence communicated both delight and edi- 
fication j and it is the declaration of his host, that 
if Mr. Bramwell had previously received a sure 
intimation that his earthly existence would termi- 
nate so soon and suddenly as it has done, he 
could not have conducted himself with more of 
that dignified propriety, and innocent cheerful- 
ness, which become a minister of grace, and an 
heir of heaven. Indeed, this had always been his 
character, when in former times he had passed 
many happy days at Mr. Sigston's house ; but it 
was the more remarkable at this period, for ' his 
conversation was eminently in heaven, from 
whence he was looking for the Saviour, the Lord 
Jesus Christ.' All his sayings appeared to pos- 
sess a Divine power. Such a mature strength of 
zeal, tempered with Christian affability and gen- 
tleness, has seldom been witnessed. He was 
1 filled with the Spirit •/ and exhibited to the view 
of all around him a heavenly specimen of a fin- 
ished character. One of his brethren, who sat 
near him during the whole Conference, the 
business of which was often of a very trying de- 
scription, has said that Mr. Bramwell appeared 
constantly to act and live under a lively convic- 
tion of these words, ' Thou, God, seest me V 

" One afternoon during the Conference, he 
took tea with his old friend, Mr. Baiston, in com- 
pany with several other preachers. In the course 



320 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

of conversation, it was observed how difficult it 
was to station those preachers who had large 
families. Mr. Bramwell said, with much solem- 
nity, f I think some of us ought to pray that God 
would be pleased soon to grant us a station in 
heaven f 

"A few days before he died, clasping his hands 
together, and lifting his eyes to heaven, he said, 
i O the blessed, blessed state of that man of God, 
Mr. Blagborne, when he was about to depart ! I 
saw him in London a short time prior to his 
death, when he exclaimed with great joy, ' Glory, 
glory be to God, who hath made me fully ready 
for my change V 

"A friend calling upon him one day, inquired 
where his station for the following year was fixed. 
Mr. Bramwell replied, 'My brethren have ap- 
pointed me to return to Salford. But I tell them 
they will never have another opportunity to give 
me an earthly station ; for it is my intention to be 
in heaven before next Conference. I am hasten- 
ing to that better country as rapidly as I am 
able/ 

"On another occasion, an intimate friend meet- 
ing with him in the yard of the old chapel, walked 
with him, and complimented him on his being 
chosen chairman of the Manchester district j add- 
ing, with an air of pleasantry, < that he hoped his 
elevation would not turn his head.' Mr. Bram- 
well smiled, and, without seeming to have heard 
a syllable of what had been uttered, fixed his 
eyes upon his friend, and said in a very emphatic 
tone of voice, ' brother, live to God !' Imme- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 321 

diately afterward his attention was called off by 
some other friends. This one object he had per- 
petually in sight — to exhort every one with whom 
he conversed, to prepare for the complete enjoy- 
ment of the inheritance of the saints in light. He 
could assure all his friends from his own experi- 
ence, that nothing was so delightful as to live 
under a constant sense of God's presence, and to 
do all things with a regard to his glory. 

" During his stay in Leeds, he preached a few 
times in the neighboring villages. On Sunday 
evening, August 2d, he was at Woodhouse, and 
delivered an affecting discourse from Phil. i. 8—10, 
' For God is my record, how greatly I long after 
you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this 
I pray, that your love may abound yet more and 
more in knowledge and in all judgment: that 
ye may approve things that are excellent j that 
ye may be sincere and without offence till the 
day of Christ/ Little did his friends and the 
congregation suppose, when they heard his ani- 
mated exhortation for the ' abounding of their love 
in knowledge and judgment/ that it would be 
the last time of their being favored with his faith- 
ful admonitions. He dilated much on 'the day 
of Christ/ and cried out, with a fervency peculiar 
to himself, ' My heart's desire and prayer to God 
is, that I may meet all my Yorkshire friends in 
glory V He most affectionately entreated believ- 
ers to wrestle and strive for the attainment of 
the great salvation. After the conclusion of the 
service, a prayer-meeting was held ; several zeal- 
ous friends engaged in prayer, and Mr. Bramwell 



322 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

seemed to experience a kind of ecstatic delight in 
that season of social worship. 

" Being only a few miles distant from West- 
gate Hill, the residence of his daughter, on Sat- 
urday, the eighth of August, he went to see her 
and the family, and preached in the village on 
Sunday afternoon, to a crowded congregation. 
His text was 1 John iv. 16-18, 'And we have 
known and believed the love that God hath to 
us. God is love ; and he that dwelleth in love, 
dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is 
our love made perfect, that we may have boldness 
in the day of judgment ; because as he is, so are 
we in this world. There is no fear in love ; but 
perfect love casteth out fear ; because fear hath 
torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in 
love/ His sermon was very experimental, and 
he urged all his hearers to press into this life of 
God — the dwelling in love. He spoke in a pow- 
erful manner on the c boldness' with which a be- 
liever is inspired through Christ ' in the day of 
judgment f and in the course of his second 
prayer, he uttered these remarkable expressions : 
* Lord, didst thou not this day speak to my 
heart and say, Thou shalt soon be with me to be- 
hold my glory V A great number of friends 
afterward took tea with him at the house of his 
daughter Hargreaves. He commenced an inter- 
esting conversation with them on the subject of 
prayer, in which he observed, ' The Devil hates 
prayer ; and if by any means he can prevail with 
us either to neglect this duty or to be less fer- 
vent in it, he gains his purpose. Sometimes 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 323 

business will call off our attention, and we neglect 
it once in the day : at night we reflect on our 
folly, and lament our loss, resolving, if spared, to 
be more diligent on the morrow. We sometimes 
attend to the hours which we have set apart for 
the performance of this duty ; but our hearts are 
not there — they are wandering to the ends of the 
earth. At other times we are conscious of hav- 
ing done some evil, which causes us to be ashamed 
of appearing at the footstool of our Heavenly Fa- 
ther. Thus, by one means or another, Satan ob- 
tains his desire, and afterward reproves us for it. 
But when we live in a habit of constant, fervent 
prayer, our grand enemy flies, and our souls pros- 
per/ Mr. Clapham, one of the company, having 
risen to depart very early, Mr. Bramwell inquired 
why he was going so soon, and being told that he 
had to preach at six o'clock, at Drighlington, that 
evening, Mr. Bramwell took him by the hand, 
and, looking at him as though he was never to be- 
hold him again, said, ' May the Lord bless you, 
my brother Clapham !' 

" On Monday evening, August the 10th, he 
went to Holbeck, and took tea at widow Clarke's, 
with Dr. Taft and Mr. and Mrs. Simpson. He 
had formerly shown a tender concern for the sal- 
vation of the pious widow's eldest son, and had 
exacted from him a solemn promise that he would 
endeavor to meet him in heaven. They after- 
ward covenanted together to pray for each other ; 
and the youth continued to fill his part of the obli- 
gation till Mr. Bram well's death, and remains to this 
day a steady member of society. He spent a verv 



324 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

agreeable afternoon with the family, and the 
friends who had come to meet him. He prayed 
with them four or five times, and was very lively 
and zealous. Some of the friends asked him if 
the seven years had not expired which Confer- 
ence prescribes, before a preacher can be again 
appointed to a circuit in which he formerly 
travelled. < Yes/ said the man of God, with a 
heavenly smile, ' but I feel as if my next appoint- 
ment would be for heaven/ The same evening, 
at seven o'clock, he preached to an attentive and 
overflowing congregation, from Isaiah xliii. 1-3 : 
( But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, 
Jacob, and he that formed thee, Israel, fear 
not ; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee 
by thy name : thou art mine. When thou pass- 
est through the waters, I will be with thee ; and 
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : 
when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt 
not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon 
thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One 
of Israel, thy Saviour.' This was the last text 
which Mr. Bramwell was permitted to choose, and 
he spoke from it as a dying man to dying men. 
Great unction and power attended the word. 
Many were encouraged to trust yet more confi- 
dently in the promise of God, who had declared 
he would be with them when passing through 
the fire, and through the water. Every person 
that heard him remarked the solid grounds of 
comfort which in this discourse he held out to 
others, and entertained no doubt of his feeling their 
powerful influence on his own spirit, called as he 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 325 

was, so soon afterward, to ascertain their sufficiency 
in his personal experience. He prayed with un- 
common fervor at the conclusion of the sermon ; 
and in this manner terminated, at Holbeck, the 
last of his public labors ! 

" On Wednesday in the same week, after at- 
tending the last sitting of Conference a short 
time, he left his brethren about seven o'clock in 
the evening, and repaired to the house of his 
friend, that he might complete several little ar- 
rangements for his departure on the following 
morning. Mr. Sigston saw him come across the 
yard, and says that he advanced with a firm and 
agile step, like a young man in the bloom of 
health and buoyancy of spirits. 

" That evening he expected the arrival of his 
son John by coach from Durham. When he had 
finished all his intended preparations, two young 
men were dispatched into the town to await the 
arrival of the north coaches, which generally reach 
Leeds between nine and ten o'clock. On their 
return they informed Mr. Bramwell that his son 
was not arrived, but that they had met with a 
gentleman at the coach who had seen Mr. Bram- 
well, Jr., the Saturday preceding, and he had 
not intimated to him any intention of coming to 
Leeds. At this Mr. Bramwell seemed somewhat 
disappointed, till Mr. Sigston reminded him that 
he had heard him say his son would be in Leeds 
on Thursday evening, and that night was only 
Wednesday. He acknowledged that he had said 
this, and that Thursday was indeed the proper 
day for his son's arrival. He appeared much 
28 



326 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

surprised at the mistake lie had made, and said, 
1 Dear, dear ! of what have I been thinking V 
His kind host then earnestly begged of him to 
remain a day longer ; but he would not agree to 
do this, as he had previously promised his Salford 
friends that he would be with them on Thurs- 
day evening. 

" During the remainder of the evening he was 
quite cheerful, and entered readily into conversa- 
tion on various topics. Mr. William Dobson called 
to take leave of him. While the family were at 
supper Mr. Bramwell made many spiritual re- 
marks, and regretted that he had been prevented 
from seeing several of his Leeds friends, for whom 
he had formerly felt a great regard : he particu- 
larly mentioned Messrs. Benjamin and Michael 
Saddler. Immediately after supper, raising one 
hand, and looking upward, he said with a pleas- 
ing smile on his countenance, ' It strikes me that 
one of us will be gone in three or four months/ 
On which Mrs. Sigston observed, i If it should 
be Mr. Bramwell, we should say, Who could have 
thought it, as he looked so well at Conference V 
Mr. Bramwell then said, ' Several of my friends 
have died of apoplexy, and I expect to go in 
the same way/ Mrs. Sigston replied, f Perhaps 
you desire such a mode of dying, Mr. Bramwell V 
He smiled, but made no reply. Mrs. Sigston re- 
joined, ' If such is your wish, the Lord will un- 
doubtedly grant your request/ In a little time 
he prayed with the family, after which Mr. Dob- 
son retired. 

" Knowing that he intended to rise about half- 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 327 

past two o'clock next morning, to go by the first 
coach to Manchester, Mr. Sigston endeavored to 
prevail on him to retire ; but he said he could not 
till he had seen Mr. Nelson, who had promised to 
bring him an account of the termination of busi- 
ness in Conference, about which he seemed to be 
much interested. As it was then late, Mrs. Sig- 
ston took her leave of him, and hinted that she 
would probably see him before he set off in the 
morning. But he particularly requested that 
she might not be disturbed at that early hour. 
He and Mr. Sigston being then left alone, had 
much edifying conversation, at the close of which, 
Mr. Bramwell intimated a distant intention of sit- 
ting up all night, as it was then late. To this 
his friendly host objected, and pleasantly re- 
marked, ' We must have no sitting up here V 
They sat together some time longer upon the sofa, 
till Mr. Nelson arrived, who took a little supper, 
and related very circumstantially to Mr. Bram- 
well all the final proceedings of Conference. Mr. 
Nelson withdrew soon afterward; and when Mr. 
Bramwell had conversed a few minutes with his 
friend, he took the bed-candlestick, which had 
been placed for him, bade farewell most affection- 
ately to Mr. Sigston, and commended him to God 
with peculiar fervor. A servant sat up who was 
directed to call him at half-past two o'clock, and 
to provide him some comfortable refreshment be- 
fore his departure. 

"After he had entered his chamber, Mr. John- 
son, one Of the teachers who slept in the opposite 
room, heard him praying most fervently, and, 



328 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

among other petitions, he recollects the following 
sentence, which was repeated several times : 1 
Lord, prepare me for thy kingdom, and take me 
to thyself!' Mr. Johnson was awakened again, 
about two o'clock in the morning, by the fervent 
prayers of Mr. Bramwell, when he heard him 
frequently offering up this supplication : ' Lord, 
bless my soul and make me ready V At half-past 
two o'clock precisely, he came down stairs with- 
out having been called, and took his coffee and 
bread and butter, with as good an appetite as 
usual. During the time of this early repast, he 
very often lifted up his hands and eyes, and with 
great earnestness said, ' Praise the Lord ! Glory 
be to God !' etc. He then said to the servant, 
' We will pray a little.' They knelt down ; and 
he prayed very fervently for himself, for her, and 
for the whole family, beseeching God that she, as 
well as himself, might be fully ripened and made 
ready for heaven. After this she went to open 
the yard-door, and he immediately followed her, 
shook hands with her, and said, ' The Lord 
bless you, Alice !' He departed : she locked the 
door after him, and returned into the house. This 
was about three o'clock; and before she had 
time to undress herself, she heard some person 
knocking at the yard-door. She opened a win- 
dow, and a man said to her, ' Has a gentleman 
left your house this morning?' She replied, 
1 Yes.' The man* then said, < I believe he is 

* This person was James Ingham, one of the Leeds 
night patrol. He and his partner, Joseph Geldard, 
give the following account of this sudden catastrophe : 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 329 

dying in the lane/ She alarmed the family, sev- 
eral of the members of which instantly ran down 
into the lane. She also ran, shrieked, and kneel- 
ing down, said, ' Mr. Bramwell ! Mr. Bramwell V 
She thought that he attempted to speak to her ; 
but he was not able to articulate any thing dis- 
tinctly. One of the patrol ran for a surgeon : the 
other, assisted by Mr. Sigston and his youDg 
men, conveyed him back to the house. A sur- 
geon arrived in a few minutes afterward, but, 
alas !' the vital spark was quite extinct. 

" So rapid was this transition from life to 
death, that the language which his friend, Mr. 
Henry Moore, employed on the occasion, appears 

"We belong to the Leeds patrol. In the execution 
of our duty, we were going up Woodhouse lane a lit- 
tle before three o'clock. When we got to Mr. Bram- 
well, he was standing in a bending attitude, with his 
hands upon his knees. I [Ingham] said, ' My good 
man, does something ail you V He said, ' Yes, I am 
very ill indeed. Take hold of me, watch!' I immedi- 
ately took hold of him on one side, and told my com- 
rade to take hold of the other. I then asked him where 
he came from, and told him we would take him back 
again. He said, ' I came from Mr. Sigston's ;' and 
on my asking where Mr. Sigston liyed, he said, 'A lit- 
tle farther up, on the right hand.' I inquired of him 
if we might take him back again: he said, 'Yes, do, if 
you please.' But he took only one step from the 
ground, when he said he could go no farther. He then 
stood in his former position, saying he was the easiest 
in that posture. At last he fell upon his knees, and my 
partner took hold of him, and said to me, ' Be quick and 
tell Mr. Sigston.' Mr. Bramwell said, 'Yes, do, for I 
shall not be long here.' These were the last words 
which he spoke." 

28* 



330 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

very just and appropriate : — ' We can scarcely 
call it death : it almost appears a translation. ' 
Viewed in this light, while his unexpected re- 
moval from this state of suffering is regarded as 
a mysterious providence by his relations, and by 
the Church, it may be contemplated as an act of 
Divine mercy, as it respected himself; for of the 
pangs of dissolution he was almost unconscious, 
and they were soon over.* 

" It is impossible to give any adequate descrip- 
tion of the sensation which the account of Mr. 
Bramwell's sudden death produced upon the 
public mind. He had been long known and 
highly esteemed in Leeds and its vicinity, as an 
able champion in the cause of Christ; and the 
suddenness of his departure out of this world 
seemed to make every one more deeply sensible 
of those excellences in his character and conduct 
to which they had before done ample justice. 
For few preachers ever attracted larger or more 
attentive audiences ; and, what is very remarka- 
ble, notwithstanding his uncommonly faithful ad- 
monitions, and his great plainness of speech, the 
ungodly part of mankind flocked to hear him in 
preference to a great number of his brethren in 
the ministry. This might be owing, in part, to 
the peculiar earnestness which distinguished his 
delivery in the pulpit, and which such persons re- 
garded as a proof of the paramount impression 
produced on his own mind by the grand truths 
which he delivered to others. 

* On this topic, see Mr. Dawson's very interesting 
sermon, preached soon after the mournful occurrence. 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 331 

u Many of his brethren, the preachers, had not 
left Leeds, the business of Conference having 
only ended at a very late hour the preceding 
evening; and they testified, in every possible 
manner, their deep regret for the loss of such a 
faithful and affectionate fellow-laborer. His rela- 
tives determined to have his remains removed 
from Leeds, and to deposit them in the burial- 
ground at Westgate Hill. Friday afternoon was 
the time privately fixed upon for the intended re- 
moval. No notice was given of it, except to the 
remaining preachers, who had expressed a wish 
to show some public mark of respect for Mr. 
Bram well's memory; yet an immense multitude 
of serious, well-dressed people, of different reli- 
gious denominations, had filled up a great part 
of Woodhouse lane, the road leading to Mr. Sig- 
ston's dwelling, some time prior to the hearse 
moving off with the body. As soon as it began 
to move from the house, a procession was formed, 
as if from impulse, and without previous concert. 
The travelling preachers arranged themselves in 
pairs, according to seniority, and followed imme- 
diately after the body. It was a very affecting 
spectacle to behold such a number of venerable 
and aged ministers, succeeded by their vigorous 
younger brethren, all uniting by their presence 
to render due honor to the virtues of the deceased. 
Then followed, in the same order, a goodly com- 
pany of the local preachers and leaders; and 
after them a promiscuous but very respectable 
assemblage of private Christians. The number of 
attentive and deeply interesting spectators that 
lined both sides of the road was immense; and 



332 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

before the procession had reached the top of Brig- 
gate, it had received a considerable augmentation 
both of mourners and beholders, who extended 
from the top to nearly the middle of that fine street. 
Had any public intimation been given of the time 
when Mr. Braniwell's remains would be conveyed 
to Westgate Hill, the crowd would have been so 
great as to impede the free passage of the proces- 
sion. 

" In this solemn manner it moved till it arrived 
at the confines of Holbeck and Wortley, when, 
after a very impressive prayer by Dr. Taft, the 
following appropriate verse was sung : 

There all the ship's company meet, 

Who sailed with their Saviour beneath; 
With shouting each other they greet, 

And triumph o'er sorrow and death : 
The voyage of life's at an end, 

The mortal affliction is past ; 
The age that in heaven they spend, 

For ever and ever shall last. 

The company then separated, and the hearse con- 
veyed the body to the place of its destination. 
It had been previously announced that the inter- 
ment of Mr. Bramwell's remains would take 
place on the following Sunday. 

" On Sunday, the sixteenth of August, multi- 
tudes from all parts of the country repaired to 
Westgate Hill, to witness the funeral ceremony 
of their beloved friend and pastor. Several aged 
people came from some of the villages beyond 
Sheffield, and others from places equally distant. 

" Mr. Highfield preached in the area adjoining 
the chapel, to an overwhelming congregation, 
from Matthew xxiv. 44 : ' Therefore be ye also 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 333 

ready ; for in such an hour as ye think not, the 
Son of man cometh/ The body was then com- 
mitted to the silent grave, amidst the sincere la- 
mentations of many thousands present. Imme- 
diately afterward, Mr. Nelson and Dr. Taft de- 
livered very solemn and appropriate addresses to 
the deeply affected multitude. 

" This solemn event was improved, the same 
Sunday evening, in all the three Methodist cha- 
pels In Leeds, and in many of the adjoining cir- 
cuits ; and on the fourteenth of September, a 
funeral sermon was preached by Mr. William 
Dawson, in the area in front of Mr. Sigston's 
school, and near the place where Mr. Bramwell 
died. Nearly ten thousand persons were assem- 
bled that afternoon, and listened with almost 
breathless attention to the admirable discourse of 
this engaging preacher.* 

"A plain tablet, bearing the following neat and 
unassuming inscription, has been erected to his 
memory in the burial-ground at Westgate Hill : 

HERE LIETH WHAT WAS EARTHLY 

Of the venerable 

WILLIAM BRAMWELL, 

A chosen, approved, and valiant minister of Christ, 

Who died August 13, A. D. 1818, aged 59. 

Stranger ! -when thou approachest this shrine 

Consecrated to his memory 

By an afflicted family, 

May his ashes still proclaim, what he lived 

To publish, 

'Prepare to meet thy God!'" 

* This discourse was soon after published by parti- 
cular reauest. 



334 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

A remarkable dream in reference to Mr. Bramwell — Mr. Ward's 
brief character of him. 

It was the original intention of the author of this 
memoir to have inserted, in this place, a compre- 
hensive view of the late Mr. BramwelPs charac- 
ter. But a detailed character of Mr. Bramwell 
seems the less necessary in this place, because each 
of the friends who contributed to the preceding 
account has given his own view of particular 
traits in it, which are correct and edifying. 

It has, however, been thought proper to sub- 
join the following remarkable dream, which was 
related to the author by Mr. Henshaw, on the 
morning of Mr. Bramwell's decease. When Mr. 
Henshaw returned to his circuit, he was requested 
to furnish a statement of it, which he did in the 
following terms : — 

" I shall never forget the affecting scene which 
occurred on the morning after the last Conference 
closed. Passing by your door a few minutes be- 
fore six o'clock, from the house of my hospitable 
friend, Mr. W. Smith, it was announced to me 
that Mr. Bramwell was dead. Overwhelmed with 
this unexpected and most afflictive intelligence, 
scarcely thinking it could possibly be true, I en- 
tered the parlor, where I saw the body of my 



MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 335 

friend laid on the sofa, clothed as usual, with a 
pillow under his head, — his eyes closed, his body 
warm, and his features then as perfectly composed 
as if he had been in a sweet sleep, — only 'he 
breathed not/ Being left alone in the room with 
him for some time, I had sensations of holy de- 
light, peculiar and indescribable. Never before 
did death to me so appear disarmed of terror ; 
never did the veil which hides the blessedness of 
eternity from our view seem so thin. I seemed 
to enjoy the sweetest fellowship with his happy 
spirit, and wished myself in his stead. His faith- 
ful, piercing sermons, his fervent prayers, his 
holy example, his heavenly converse, and the in- 
terviews of past years, rushed on my recollection 
with uncommon force; and then I saw the ca- 
reer of his useful labor and of his life, thus easily 
and happily finished together. I saw also, by 
faith, the beginning of his glorious triumphant 
state, which should continue for ever; and if a 
wish would have brought him from the skies, to 
tabernacle again in this abode of darkness, pain, 
and death, I could not have offered it. As God 
had said to Moses, ' Get thee up into this moun- 
tain and die/ so he seemed to have said to this 
holy man, * Thy work is done : leave the house 
of thy friend, and enter into the joy of thy Lord/ 
The behest was obeyed j and dropping the shreds 
of mortality, he entered into glory. 

" His death brought to my remembrance a 
dream that I had above twenty years ago. I re- 
lated it to you ; and it seems you then thought it 
so remarkable, from the reference made in it to 



MEMOIR OF W. ERAMWELL. 

Mr. Bramwell, as to request a written account of 
it. With this request I find great difficulty in 
complying. Dreams in general are such odd, 
fantastic things, that they who much regard 
them are justly contemned. Some dreams are, 
however, unquestionably divine ; and many others 
may be related to a few friends by the fireside, 
which it would not be proper to make public. To 
print a dream is a serious affair : I am therefore 
extremely doubtful as to the propriety of the fol- 
lowing appearing before the public, although the 
beneficial effect which it had upon my own mind 
at the time was considerable. I submit it, how- 
ever, wholly to your judgment, as I write it solely 
at your request. 

" I told you that soon after the death of that 
venerable minister, Mr. Thomas Hanby, in De- 
cember, 1796, I was desired by the society in 
Nottingham to supply his lack of service in the 
circuit, until the time of Conference. About 
three months after I had commenced this arduous 
task, one night, in a dream, I saw Mr. Wesley 
enter the house where I then was, dressed exactly 
as I had seen him in the pulpit. I thought I at 
once told him of the desire which I felt to devote 
myself to the service of the Lord, as an itinerant 
preacher in his Connection. He rubbed his 
hands, and with affability expressed his approba- 
tion. As I had already hurt my health by loud 
and violent speaking, and had received from dif- 
ferent persons very opposite directions relative to 
my mode of delivery in the pulpit, it occurred to 
me to ask the opinion of Mr. Wesley, * whether 



MEMOIR OP W. BR AM WELL. 337 

or not I should endeavor to continue that earnest- 
ness of manner in preaching with which I had 
commenced V He said, ' You know the clergy 
in general adopt a cool and deliberate method of 
speaking, and do but little good. We must look 
upon ourselves as ministers called of God, out of 
the ordinary way, to awaken a sleepy world to a 
sense of sin and danger, and earnestly to direct all 
men to Christ ; therefore labor hard in the pul- 
pit/ I replied, 'But inasmuch as conversion 
can be effected only by the operation of the Spirit 
of God on the hearts of the people, may we not 
expect that operation as much when speaking in 
a cool and deliberate manner, as by the use of the 
utmost warmth and energy of expression V He 
said, i No. The Holy Spirit cooperates with the 
word when it is delivered in a warm and earnest 
manner, and makes it effectual to conversion ; as 
witness William Bramwell, although many take 
him for an enthusiast/ He then directed me to 
read his own journals, and bade me farewell. 
When I awoke it was still night ; and after mus- 
ing a long time, I slept again, and thought I saw 
a friend, to whom I related, with great exact- 
ness, the interview which I had with Mr. Wes- 
ley in a dream, and with what benignity he had 
accepted of me as a preacher in his Connection. 
On awakening a second time, I arose and wrote 
down these particulars. 

" Soon after this period, Mr. Bramwell came 

on a visit to Nottingham, where I saw him for the 

first time, at the house of Mr. Tatham. After 

tea, at his request, we all prayed until \h.a time 

29 



338 MEMOIR OP W. BRAMWELL. 

of preaching. His text was 1 Thess. i. 3 : ' Your 
work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of 
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ/ This sermon he 
preached, indeed, with great earnestness, and the 
Lord blessed the word. At a prayer-meeting 
held in the chapel after preaching, several per- 
sons implored mercy aloud, and some obtained it. 
When he retired to rest, he spent a great part of 
the night in prayer. The next morning he called 
me up before four o'clock, and we read in the 
New Testament and prayed till five, at which 
hour a prayer-meeting was held in Mr. Tatham's 
kitchen, according to notice given on the preced- 
ing evening. The room was crowded with peo- 
ple; and it proved a blessed season to many. 
The day was spent in heavenly conversation, and 
prayer, with different families. In the evening 
he preached again : the subject was sanctifica- 
tion, from 1 Thess. v. 23, 24. The word was 
spoken with great power ; and some now living 
will remember it to this day. On the following 
morning he returned to Sheffield. It may well 
be supposed that the recollection of the dream, 
and the effect of this visit, would make a deep 
impression on my mind, and produce ever after- 
ward an attentive observation of Mr. BramwelPs 
conduct. I hope, therefore, I may be allowed to 
say, that for genuine religious zeal, a deep spirit 
of devotion, power with God in prayer, self-denial 
and deadness to the world, — for a laborious dis- 
charge of the general duties of the ministry, faith- 
fulness in reproving sin, and sympathy with the 
afflicted, — for uniform and entire holiness of life 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 339 

and conversation, and successful efforts in the 
awakening and conversion of sinners, and in the 
building up of believers, — I have never seen his 
superior. May the mantle of this Elijah fall on 
many young Elishas I" 

The author closes this memoir with the fol- 
lowing brief tribute to several of Mr. Bramwell's 
excellences, kindly communicated by Mr. Valen- 
tine Ward, who was his colleague in two different 
circuits : — 

" My acquaintance with Mr. Bramwell com- 
menced immediately after the Conference in 
1808, when he was appointed superintendent of 
the Liverpool Circuit. After enjoying the privi- 
lege of travelling with him in that circuit, and 
having been separated one year, we had again the 
happiness of being fellow-laborers and also next- 
door neighbors. 

" Nothing is more common than for erroneous 
opinions to be formed of celebrated men. Accord- 
ingly, I # had involuntarily formed disadvantage- 
ous prepossessions concerning our departed friend, 
which a short acquaintance entirely removed. In 
the first place, I expected to find him a snarling 
cynic, a morose disturber of Christian cheerful- 
ness, and an interrupter of the most innocent con- 
versation. But what was he in fact ? The happy 
man, — the kind, tender-hearted friend, — atten- 
tive to every person about him ; and if more at- 
tentive to one than to another, it was to the young, 
or to any who were in danger of being over- 
looked. He was sufficiently severe to himself, 
but indulgent to others. 



340 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

"Another particular in which I found myself 
mistaken concerning him, was his conscientiously 
strict and firm adherence to discipline. The lan- 
guage of my fears, grounded on vague report, 
was, that however excellent he might be as a 
preacher, he would be very unfit to govern a large 
society, and that his management of discussions, 
and his decisions in our various official meetings, 
would be guided more by his own feelings than 
by rule. But never was any man's conduct more 
opposed to such a theory. ' Thus saith the law/ 
was his constant observation : 'we must not, will 
not go contrary to our rules/ And I am sure the 
conviction of his own mind was, that this is the 
most excellent way. 

" No doubt, most or all of your correspondents 
who have travelled with him will bear testimony 
to his diligence. He was a great economist of 
time. Rising early in the morning, he employed 
every hour of the day usefully, either in the du- 
ties of the closet, or in visiting the sick in body 
or soul — advising, comforting, or admonishing 
them, as the occasion required. The love of im- 
mortal souls appeared to be a ruling passion in his 
heart. He had for years been studying the soul's 
immense value, its unending duration, the infinite 
price paid to redeem it, its capacity for enjoy- 
ment, and the danger of its being miserable for 
ever. And having for so long a time pondered 
these things in his heart, his unconstrained lan- 
guage concerning sinners seemed always to be, 
4 If by any means I may gain some.' In 
reference to those already in the good way, he 



MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 341 

could affirm, 'Now I live, if ye stand fast in the 
Lord/ 

" He was not, as the words are commonly un- 
derstood, a great preacher. But if that man is 
the best physician who performs the most cures, 
that is the best preacher who is the instrument 
of bringing the greatest number of souls to God ; 
and in this view Mr. Brarawell will be entitled 
to rank among the greatest and best of Christian 
ministers. Those who knew him, however, and 
were most competent to form a correct judgment 
concerning him, did not expect to hear from him 
what is called a ' finished discourse.' They were 
prepared to witness a total neglect of some modern 
popular rules of sermonizing. But they did ex- 
pect to hear ' words of fire/ Some striding, ori- 
ginal observations occurred in all his sermons. Old 
truths of unspeakable value and importance, 
were delivered by him with an unction and an em- 
phasis seldom equalled, and scarcely ever sur- 
passed. Much might with propriety be said of 
his abhorrence of evil speaking, and of the faith- 
ful stand which he frequently made against this 
too common and fashionable vice. Often when 
an absent character has been attacked, he has 
said, 'Well, we cannot mend him by talking 
about him here : let us pray for him/ And 
sometimes he has risen from his seat, and declared 
his determination to leave the house if this evil 
were persisted in. 

"After all that may be said concerning his 
other qualities, nothing will be remembered by 
his numerous friends more readily, or for a longer 
29* 



342 MEMOIR OF W. BRAMWELL. 

period, than his spirit of prayer. He was indeed 
a man of God ! His fluent, impressive, fervent, 
and successful addresses to God in the pulpit, the 
parlor, and by the side of the sick-bed, — with his 
sweet spirit of devotion, and his deep experience 
of the love of God, — marked him out as one who 
delighted to enter into his closet, and hold sweet 
communion with the Father of spirits." 



THE END. 



MAR 8 1907 



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